Eliminating rabies: 8th international course on surveillance and control

The 8th International Course on Surveillance and Control of Rabies was held on 2-12 December 2024 in Harare, Zimbabwe, exemplifying the theme of World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2025: "Unite. Act. Eliminate." The course brought together professionals from human, animal, and environmental public health working on rabies control to strengthen country capacity in achieving the "Zero by 30" goal - eliminating human deaths from dog mediated rabies by 2030.

Unite: Collaborate for change.

Rabies is a serious public health problem in over 150 countries and territories, causing an estimated 59 000 deaths annually. It is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease which is present in all continents except Antarctica. Achieving the Zero by 30 goal of eliminating human deaths by dog-mediated rabies by 2030 requires a united global effort, leveraging a One Health approach encompassing intersectoral and cross-border collaboration.<_o3a_p>

Unite is about bringing together the expertise and resources needed to build a strong, coordinated effort. High-level collaboration is essential to ensure that rabies remains a priority on the global health agenda. However, effective collaboration is equally crucial at the local government and municipality levels, where practical implementation occurs. The international rabies course emphasized the importance of collective action at local, national and international levels. The training embodied a One Health approach, bringing together professionals working across sectors from diverse fields - human, animal and environmental public health - to increase in-country capacity and provide attendees with comprehensive training in all aspects of rabies control and surveillance. <_o3a_p>

One of the key aspects of the training was the focus on cross-border collaboration, as rabies does not recognize national borders. A coordinated response across regions can improve policy advocacy, access to resources, and facilitate data and knowledge sharing.<_o3a_p>

"The problem is that we are working in silos. The first thing I am going to do when I go home is to contact our regional veterinary office and see how we can collaborate. We need to work together."<_o3a_p>

Dr Buhlebenkosi Ndlovu, Medical Doctor working in local municipality Bulawayo City Council.<_o3a_p>

Act: Address challenges head-on.

Act is a call to take immediate, tangible steps in rabies control. The global strategic plan for Zero by 30 highlights three main pillars: mass dog vaccination, improved access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and community engagement and education.

Many endemic countries face similar challenges in rabies control, such as limited access to PEP, inadequate resources, weak surveillance systems, and poor community awareness. The course provided participants with both theoretical knowledge from global experts and practical experience through hands-on activities. Participants were encouraged to reflect on how to adapt best practices to their local contexts and address these challenges head-on. During the workshop participants were encouraged to reflect on their own country context. Sharing the experiences of working in rabies control in different countries allowed for peer learning. The course equipped participants with the tools, skills and knowledge to act decisively in their communities, ensuring that these strategies are implemented and sustained.

"The key insight I've gained is the importance of reflecting on our current practices and identifying areas for improvement in addressing the challenges we face. A significant knowledge gap exists, as rabies is often seen primarily as a veterinary issue. However, we recognize that it is a concern that affects everyone. By expanding our knowledge and fostering a collaborative approach, we can strengthen case management and improve the quality of our data on rabies."

Dr Mary Mwashita, Veterinary Diagnostics and Research officer, Department of Veterinary Services

Eliminate: End rabies as a public health threat.

The goal of Zero by 30 is to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030. Participants reflected on the socio-cultural aspects of rabies control and engaged in risk communication practices, understanding that elimination requires not only vaccination campaigns but also changing behaviours and strengthening community engagement. The message was clear: through concerted efforts, rabies can be eliminated, saving thousands of lives each year.<_o3a_p>

The 8th International course on Surveillance and Control of Rabies was held in Harare, Zimbabwe. This intensive 11-day intensive course brought together professionals from both human and animal health sectors working on rabies control in Africa. Thirty-three participants attended from nine countries: Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The course aimed to provide a comprehensive, hands-on training in rabies surveillance and control. It emphasized the necessity of a multi-disciplinary approach and intersectoral collaboration in tackling rabies. Prior to the in-person workshop, participants completed 2 months of online coursework to lay the foundation for the practical training. The on-site sessions complemented the theoretical components provided through pre-training sessions and lectures and included: a mass dog vaccination campaign, field study, diagnostic laboratory work, surveillance, community awareness and engagement. This approach allowed participants from diverse professional backgrounds from human, animal and environmental public health, to gain practical experience and foster peer learning.

The course was organized by the Department of Veterinary Services and the Faculty of Veterinary Science of Zimbabwe along with international partners.^[1] This is the eighth edition of the course, with previous iterations taking place in Cameroon (2023), Côte d'Ivoire (2022), Morocco (2019), Islamic Republic of Iran (2017), Cameroon (2016), Cambodia (2015) and Senegal (2013).

Photos credits: WHO/Zimbabwe

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.