RABIES

Contributing to the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies deaths in Africa

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Rabies kills around 59,000 people every year in the world with 40% of rabies deaths occurring in children under 15 years of age. Most deaths occur in Africa and Asia and mainly affects people living in marginalised societies.

At the global level, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) have forged a strategic collaboration named  United Against Rabies (UAR) in the framework of One Health. This collaboration has developed and launched a Global Strategic Plan to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030Zero by 30’.

In Africa, numerous dog-mediated rabies control projects and initiatives are being implemented in countries such as in Chad, Eritrea, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania and Tunisia. Some of them were implemented within the framework of European Union “The Strengthening Veterinary Services in Developing Countries (SVSDC) + Rabies pilot Project” that supports piloting efforts in Africa to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies. Others benefit from the support of the Government of Germany, e.g. in Namibia (Namibia Rabies Elimination Project). 

To integrate rabies networks in Africa, a Pan-African Rabies Control Network (PARACON) was established during the first PARACON meeting in 2015 in South Africa, under the secretariat of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC). The PARACON provides a platform for countries to collaborate and co-ordinate both internally and with their neighbours towards effective and efficient rabies control programmes in Africa.  

The 87th WOAH (OIE at the time) World Assembly passed international standards that enable countries to apply, on a voluntary basis, for the endorsement of their national dog-mediated rabies control programmes. 

In addition, the WOAH rabies vaccine bank supports countries to conduct mass dog vaccination campaign to eliminate rabies. 

The SARE tool and the Canine Rabies Blueprint, were developed to encourage relevant stakeholders to work together to progress from stage to stage towards rabies elimination. 

Reference laboratories in the region :

Rabies Unit
Onderstepoort Veterinary Research
Private Bag X 05,
Onderstepoort 0110
Pretoria, South Africa
Tel: (27-12) 529.94.39
Fax: (27-12) 529.93.90
Email: [email protected]

Regional reports/strategies for download/browsing

Rabies in West Africa, 2019 : 6th International Conference on Rabies In West Africa (RIWA)

Rabies in North Africa, 2019 : WOAH / OIE rabies meeting expected to move countries forward towards effective rabies elimination strategies in North Africa (WOAH/OIE)

Rabies in Southern Africa, 2018 : SADC region reaffirms its commitment to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030 (WOAH/OIE)

Rabies in Eastern Africa, 2017 : First Regional Rabies Meeting in East Africa  (UAR)

Rabies in Eastern Africa, 2023 : Second Regional Rabies Meeting in East Africa  (UAR)

Rabies STOP-R

Diseases (latest outbreaks in Africa).

See all alerts

22/05/2026 Ceuta(Spain) :Rabies

23/09/2025 Ceuta (Spain) : Rabies
19/09/2025 Melilla (Spain) : Rabies
19/06/2025 Namibia : Rabies
05/06/2025 Melilla (Spain) : Rabies
23/04/2025 Melilla (Spain) : Rabies
14/04/2025 Melilla (Spain) : Rabies
09/04/2025 Melilla (Spain) : Rabies

20/12/2024 Libya : Rabies
27/09/2024 Melilla (Spain):Rabies
06/09/2024 Melilla (Spain): Rabies
02/08/2024 Melilla (Spain) : Rabies
04/07/2024 Burkina Faso : Rabies
03/07/2024 Burkina Faso : Rabies
12/06/2024 South Africa Rabies (seals)
11/01/2024 Melilla (Spain) Rabies

14/09/2023 Melilla (Spain) Rabies
26/05/2023 Melilla (Spain) Rabies
22/11/2022 Melilla (Spain) Rabies
28/10/2022 Melilla (Spain) Rabies
21/07/2022 Melilla (Spain) Rabies
21/10/2021  Ceuta  (Spain) Rabies
01/10/2021 Melilla (Spain) Rabies
19/11/2020 Liberia : Rabies
21/01/2020 Melilla (Spain)Rabies
27/06/2019 
 Ceuta  (Spain) Rabies 
08/06/2017  Egypt : Rabies (cattle and equines) 
29/11/2013  Congo (Rep. of the) : Rabies

Validated Rabies National Action Plans (Africa)

Cameroon

INTEGRATED STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ELIMINATION OF CANINE-ORIGIN HUMAN RABIES IN CAMEROON 2018–2030

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Cote d'Ivoire

National Integrated Rabies Control Programme in Côte d’Ivoire [2018–2030]

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Ethiopia

NATIONAL RABIES CONTROL AND ELIMINATION STRATEGY

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Eritrea

A National Strategic Plan for the elimination of dog-mediated rabies in Eritrea

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Kenya

Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Human Rabies in Kenya 2014 - 2030

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Nigeria

NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ELIMINATION OF DOG MEDIATED HUMAN RABIES 2022 - 2026

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Tanzania

THE NATIONAL RABIES CONTROL STRATEGY

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Uganda

NATIONAL RABIES ELIMINATION STRATEGY (NRES) FOR HUMAN DOG MEDIATED RABIES (2022-2030)

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Dog Rabies Vaccination

Dog Rabies Vaccination

Dog Rabies Vaccination

Dog Rabies Vaccination

Dog Rabies Vaccination

Dog Rabies Vaccination

Useful links

 

Applicable WOAH standards

 

Self-declaration

 

Rabies

Bamako AccraBrazzaville Pretoria

World Rabies Day in Africa : a joint FAO, OIE, WHO and GARC message (2020)

September 24, 2020
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Webinar

Africa Rabies Webinar 2020: Updates on rabies elimination efforts in Africa region

September 28, 2020
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UAR

United Against Rabies portal

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Rabies

Africa Rabies Webinar (World Rabies Day) 2022

September 27, 2022
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Forme

Rabies

Rabies SG NEWS SG 87
United Against Rabies : Supporting the development of national rabies control programmes in affected countries

SG News 30 May 2019

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Visit the :

WOAH Rabies portal (events)

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WOAH guidelines and recommendations

Application for endorsement by WOAH of a national rabies control plan

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Press Release

2023 World Rabies Day Joint Statement by the Quadripartite Coordination Group and the Pan-African Rabies Control Network (PARACON) in the Africa region

September 28, 2023
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RABIES

Contributing to the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies deaths in Africa

September 28, 2019
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Social media links

FLICKR
Rabies (pictures)

Flickr photo album

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FLICKR
Rabies diagnostic training course (southern Africa)

Flickr photo album

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FLICKR
Workshop on the National Animal Rabies Control Programme in Tunisia (northern Africa)

Flickr photo album

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