One Health in Action: Combating Rabies Globally

Rabies is often associated primarily with dogs, but this acute viral infection, which affects the central nervous system, poses a threat to all mammals. With a near 100% fatality rate once symptoms appear, rabies remains a viral zoonotic disease of critical

concern. While dogs are the primary reservoir for rabies, humans are at risk of infection from a wide range of domestic and wild animals, underscoring the need for a unified, global approach to combat the disease.

To address rabies effectively, a multi-sectoral, One Health approach is necessary—one that integrates the efforts of human, animal, and environmental health sectors. Countries across the globe are employing traditional and innovative strategies to reduce and eliminate rabies, recognizing the need to break down traditional silos between these sectors.

In the United States, beyond routine vaccination of domestic animals, efforts have been made to vaccinate wildlife populations through the distribution of oral rabies vaccine bait. This strategy helps control rabies in wild animals, significantly reducing the risk of transmission to both humans and domestic animals.

More about the U.S. rabies vaccination program.

India adopted the National Action Plan for Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) in 2021, which emphasizes a One Health approach. An often-overlooked aspect of their strategy is improving waste management, as unmanaged waste can attract scavengers like stray dogs and wild animals, increasing the risk of rabies transmission to humans. This plan highlights the interconnectedness of health and environmental management.

Learn more about India's NAPRE.

Similarly, the People's Republic of China has taken a One Health approach through the 2021 revision of its Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention. This legislation focuses on dog population management and mandates vaccination, aiming to curb human rabies transmission through comprehensive control strategies.

Kenya's stepwise strategy to eliminate rabies also embraces One Health principles. The country focuses on raising public awareness about rabies risks beyond just dogs and enhancing access to post-exposure prophylaxis. Educational initiatives targeted at both the public and healthcare workers play a crucial role in improving rabies prevention and response efforts.

Learn more about Kenya’s Rabies Elimination Plan

Brazil has implemented an integrated surveillance system for rabies that embodies the One Health approach for more than 50 years. Since the start of its national rabies program, the country has fostered collaboration between the Ministries of Health and Agriculture to jointly report rabies cases. Surveillance remains a cornerstone of their strategy, enabling the rapid identification of rabies cases and informing necessary response measures.

From the United States to Brazil, these examples show that effective rabies prevention requires a coordinated approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health. By breaking down barriers between sectors, the global community can move closer to achieving rabies elimination.

Resources/References:

FAO: https://www.fao.org/one-health/areas-of-work/rabies/en 

WHO: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2024/09/28/default-calendar/world-rabies-day-2024 

WOAH: https://www.woah.org/en/disease/rabies/#ui-id-2 

Balcha, C., Abdela, N. (2017) International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS) Vol.6, No.4, December 2017, pp. 343~350 ISSN: 2252-8806, DOI: 10.11591/ijphs.v6i4.10781

https://www.undp.org/india/stories/collaborative-approach-key-eliminating-rabies 

Ohio Department of Health. (2024.09.27). Oral rabies vaccination campaign. Ohio Department of Health. https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/zoonotic-disease-program/news/oral-rabies-vaccination

Wright, N., Subedi, D., Pantha, S., Acharya, K. P., & Nel, L. H. (2021). The Role of Waste Management in Control of Rabies: A Neglected Issue. Viruses, 13(2), 225. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13020225

https://rabiesfreeindia.mohfw.gov.in/About-NAPRE 

Shen, T., Welburn, S. C., Sun, L., & Yang, G. J. (2023). Progress towards dog-mediated rabies elimination in PR China: a scoping review. Infectious diseases of poverty, 12(1), 30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-023-01082-3 

Bitek, A. O., Osoro, E., Munyua, P. M., Nanyingi, M., Muthiani, Y., Kiambi, S., Muturi, M., Mwatondo, A., Muriithi, R., Cleaveland, S., Hampson, K., Njenga, M. K., Kitala, P. M., & Thumbi, S. M. (2019). A hundred years of rabies in Kenya and the strategy for eliminating dog-mediated rabies by 2030. AAS open research, 1, 23. https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.12872.2 

Zoonotic Disease Unit: Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Human Rabies in Kenya 2014 - 2030. Nairobi: Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries; 2014. http://guidelines.health.go.ke:8000/media/Strategic_plan_for_elimination_of_Rabies.pdf 

Schneider, M. C., Min, K. D., Romijn, P. C., De Morais, N. B., Montebello, L., Manrique Rocha, S., Sciancalepore, S., Hamrick, P. N., Uieda, W., Câmara, V. M., Luiz, R. R., & Belotto, A. (2023). Fifty Years of the National Rabies Control Program in Brazil under the One Health Perspective. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 12(11), 1342. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12111342