WVA and WMA Joint Press Release
The total elimination of dog-transmitted human rabies by 2030 has been
called for in a joint statement by the World Veterinary Association (WVA)
and World Medical Association (WMA).
The two organizations have joined forces to mark World Rabies Day on September 28 in
collaboration with the Rabies: Share the message – Save a life campaign of Global Alliance for
Rabies Control (GARC)
An estimated 60,000 people die from rabies each year mainly affecting poorer people and children between the
ages of 5 and 15. A majority of these deaths, about 97 per cent, are attributable to dog bites. Notifications and
reporting of animal bites are generally not required in the countries in which these bites occur most commonly,
leading to unreliable data on animal bites.
The WVA and WMA note that the global and endemic nature of rabies can also be attributed to a general lack of
awareness of preventive measures, such as wound washing after bites occur, poor knowledge of proper postexposure
prophylaxis (PEP) through vaccination and lack of administration of immunoglobulins.
WVA President, Dr Johnson Chiang said; Education and Awareness play an important role in
preventing human rabies deaths. A priority shall be given to education for school children about
vaccinating dogs, treating bite wounds and dog bite prevention. Community-level messages shall be
also shared at all policy levels especially by governments to commit themselves to end Rabies by
2030.
WMA President, Dr. Yoshitake Yokokura added: ‘The total elimination of dog-transmitted human rabies
would be greatly helped if we could reduce the population of stray and unowned free-roaming dogs. It
is also important to implement dog vaccination programs’.
International and national vaccine manufacturers produce enough vaccine annually to deliver approximately 28
million PEP treatments in dog rabies-enzootic countries (in Africa, Asia, and the Eastern Mediterranean region),
preventing nearly 98 per cent of human rabies deaths. Unfortunately, access to PEP is limited and costly, the
supply of immunoglobulins and vaccines can be irregular and public awareness of rabies is low. Vaccination of
domestic dogs is not widely implemented. There is a need for increased laboratory capacity and expertise, as well
as better data, improved surveillance and more user-friendly and economical diagnostic tests. However, a greater
focus on mass dog vaccination could eliminate the disease at its source, reducing the large burden of mortality for
at-risk communities.
Sign up to support End Rabies Now!
WVA and WMA inviting organizations to become part of the End Rabies Now
campaign, to end deaths due to rabies by 2030.
ELIMINATION OF DOG-TRANSMITTED RABIES
BY 2030 TARGETED
www.worldvet.org