A knowledge update on current strategies on the prevention and control of rabies in Ethiopia

Abstract

Rabies remains a major viral anthropozoonosis of public health importance.Although canine rabies has been successfully eliminated in certain regions, the disease continues to cause tens of thousands of human fatalities globally each year.Rabies imposes a considerable burden on public health and veterinary sectors; therefore, it should be prioritized at national and regional levels.In most of Africa and Asia, domestic dogs act as the primary reservoir and the major sources of human infections.Achieving adequate vaccination coverage within dog populations is crucial, as it can lead to the elimination of canine rabies in most endemic areas.Strengthening local capacities for rabies surveillance and diagnostics is essential for assessing the control and elimination initiatives.Furthermore, sustainable dog vaccination campaigns can be supported through intersectoral financing mechanisms that engage both sectors.Overall, significant technical or logistical barriers to the control of canine rabies are largely absent in most regions, and mass vaccination of domestic dogs remains a feasible and cost-effective strategy for preventing both human and animal rabies-related deaths.