AU-IBAR Statement for World Rabies Day 2025
AU-IBAR Statement for World Rabies Day 2025
Theme: “Act Now: You, Me, Community”
AU-IBAR Urges Collective Action Against Rabies on World Rabies Day 2025
As the world observes World Rabies Day 2025, the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) joins global partners in calling for urgent and inclusive action to end dog-mediated human and animal Rabies deaths in Africa.
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, yet 100% preventable through immediate wound washing, timely access to guideline-based post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and most critically, by interrupting transmission at its source via mass dog vaccination. Each year, an estimated 59,000 people still die from rabies, with about 40% of victims being children, mainly in Africa and Asia. Nearly 99% of human cases are linked to exposure to infected dogs. These preventable losses remain unacceptably high, underscoring the urgent need for action. Eliminating rabies requires the responsibility of every individual, the commitment of governments, and the solidarity of communities working together to break the cycle of transmission.
This year’s theme, “Act Now: You, Me, Community,” is a timely call to collective and shared responsibility to take immediate, concerted action to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies.
“Eliminating rabies is not just a public and animal health goal; it is a moral imperative. Every life lost to rabies we could have saved with timely action and coordination.
The theme of this year reminds us that the fight against rabies is a collective effort. Whether you are a Parent, Public Health, Veterinarian, Policymaker, or Community Member, the Time is to Act Now.” Said the Director of AU-IBAR, Dr. Huyam Salih
The economic case for Africa
Rabies is not only a public health issue but also more of an economic disease. In Africa, the annual livestock losses attributable to rabies are approximately US$ 280,000,000 resulting in a gross domestic product loss of US$ 773,000,000. Rabies inflicts devastating and particularly cruel consequences on wildlife, going far beyond a simple disease. In summary, rabies does more than just kill; it annihilates animal social structures, creates ecological voids, and leaves decimated animal populations in its wake.
PASERA: Africa’s One Health pathway to Zero by 2030
The Pan-African Strategy for the Elimination of Rabies in Africa (PASERA) is a comprehensive One Health framework designed to eliminate dog-mediated rabies across the continent in line with the global goal of “Zero human deaths by 2030.” Developed under the leadership of the African Union (AU) through AU-IBAR, in collaboration with Africa CDC, AU-PANVAC, WOAH (OMSA), FAO, WHO, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AU Member States, and other partners, PASERA represents the first continental framework to harmonise and coordinate rabies control efforts at national, regional, and continental levels. The strategy is anchored on five pillars;
• Continental & regional coordination led by the AU and the RECs (ECOWAS, ECCAS, EAC, SADC, AMU) for synchronised cross-border operations, ensuring no Member State is left behind.
• Surveillance & laboratories strengthened through harmonised systems, regional networks, and field-appropriate diagnostics.
• Community engagement & dog population management emphasising responsible ownership, education, and targeted sterilisation—replacing ineffective culling.
• Mass dog vaccination (MDV) to reach and sustain ≥70% coverage (integrated with other veterinary services and synchronised in border corridors).
• Equitable PEP & Integrated Bite Case Management linking bite notification, veterinary investigation, and rapid access to lifesaving care.
What works—and must be scaled up
• Vaccinating dogs to ≥70% stops transmission among dogs and to humans; it is the most cost-effective option to prevent deaths.
• Systematically linking bite incidents to veterinary investigation better targets PEP, improves surveillance, and reduces household costs.
• Access to PEP: the Gavi funding window for human rabies vaccines allows eligible countries to secure multi-year supplies and ease patients’ financial burden.
Priorities at continental, regional and AU Member State levels
1. Operational governance: establish AU-level One Health coordination; support regional platforms and national rabies committees.
2. Scale-up vaccination: support planning/financing of Mass Dog Vaccination to reach ≥70%, using central-point and door-to-door models, with oral vaccination where appropriate.
3. Equitable access to human PEP & IBCM to save lives: link bite case management to veterinary services; leverage the Gavi window to reduce delays and costs.
4. Laboratories & surveillance: expand rapid diagnostic tests, data-sharing and digital reporting across national, regional and continental networks.
5. Monitoring & accountability: deploy a continental M&E framework (indicators, dashboards, annual reports, independent audits).
6. Sustainable financing: combine mobilisation of national budgets, pooled procurement (e.g., vaccine banks), innovative and adaptive financing mechanisms, and co-financing.
How Africa can “Act Now”
• Sustain funding for national rabies control strategies;
• Register and host events for World Rabies Day (school awareness, bite-prevention sessions, vaccination campaigns).
• Celebrate Rabies Heroes (World Rabies Day Awards) to recognise local champions.
• Train and equip veterinary teams, health workers, community agents and other frontline actors for effective disease control.
• Strong communities’ engagement and intersectoral collaboration under the One Health framework
• Regional solidarity, and cross-border collaboration and mass dog vaccination
AU-IBAR, together with Africa CDC, AU-PANVAC, WOAH, FAO, WHO, the RECs, and AU Member States, is laying down a united pathway through The Pan-African Strategy for the Elimination of Rabies in Africa (PASERA).AU-IBAR reaffirms its commitment to coordinate, advocate, and mobilise partnerships across the continent to ensure zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
Together, You, Me, and our Communities can end rabies in Africa
About AU-IBAR
The African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), based in Nairobi, Kenya, is a specialised technical office of the African Union Commission. AU-IBAR’s mandate is to support and coordinate the sustainable development and utilisation of animal resources to enhance the livelihoods of African citizens and contribute to food and nutritional security, economic growth, and trade.