The Economic Community of West African States, through its Regional Animal Health Centre Bissau, called on Member States, health services, local authorities, communities and partners to strengthen joint efforts to prevent and eliminate human deaths from rabies. The call was made to mark World Rabies Day, observed under the theme 'Stronger Together', which serves as a reminder that rabies elimination is a collective responsibility requiring coordinated action under the 'One Health' approach. Rabies is transmitted mainly through the saliva of infected animals, particularly following dog bites or scratches, and is almost always fatal once clinical signs appear. Globally, rabies causes around 59,000 human deaths each year, nearly 40 per cent of which are children under 15, while in Africa the WHO estimates more than 21,000 annual human deaths are attributable to dog-transmitted rabies.
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
