Milestone international conference aims to eliminate human rabies transmitted by dogs

Global Elimination of Dog-mediated Human Rabies – The Time is Now

7 December 2015
Departmental update
Geneva
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Rabies kills tens of thousands of people every year. Yet we have the means and the strategic knowledge to prevent dog-mediated human rabies. This will be the key message of an international conference to be hosted by WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the support of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on 10–11 December 2015.

The first event of its kind, the conference will be instrumental in securing the required support to advance the goal of global elimination of rabies by 2030. "This meeting will be crucial to setting the stage for intersectoral collaboration and to achieving the global elimination of this preventable disease," says Dr Bernadette Abela-Ridder, Team Leader, Neglected Zoonotic Diseases, WHO.

 Rabies disproportionately affects rural and socio-economically disadvantaged communities of Africa and Asia, where awareness of the disease, access to dog vaccination programmes and appropriate post-bite treatment are limited or non-existent. Lack of rabies awareness and resources make the difference between life and death: rabies is fatal if not treated before symptoms appear.

Proof-of-concept projects demonstrate that rabies control strategies are effective and feasible. More than 95% of human rabies cases result from the bite of a rabid dog. Human rabies cases can be eliminated at source by vaccinating dogs and raising public awareness about dog bite prevention. These measures should be complemented by providing access to correct bite wound management and post-exposure prophylaxis when required.

"We've shown that mass vaccination of dogs can eliminate canine rabies," says Dr Kevin Le Roux, Rabies Programme Manager, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. "We have demonstrated success, which has spurred interest in neighbouring countries. Stimulus packages consisting of vaccines and vaccination campaign equipment, coupled with training, allow countries to kick-start a programme. The result is a significant drop in human deaths. Investments for these stimulus packages are needed to roll out elimination programmes in affected communities and countries." Drawing on the results of successful WHO proof-of-concept rabies control programmes implemented using a One Health approach, the conference will rally countries and the wider support networks to assume the challenge of investing in global rabies elimination.

 The international conference will make the case that elimination of rabies is feasible. It will include next steps on making dog and human vaccines and rabies immunoglobulins more accessible to catalyse progress. An estimated 300 participants will attend, including members of national health ministries and veterinary services, experts from the veterinary and human health sectors, international organizations, policy-makers, nongovernmental organizations, donors, national rabies coordinators and the private sector. All have a role to play in achieving the shared goal of global rabies elimination. The Time is Now!