World Rabies Day 2014: #TogetherAgainstRabies

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1 World Rabies Day 2014: #TogetherAgainstRabies

2 Rabies and World Rabies Day

3 Rabies: Did you know? Fatal viral disease mainly transmitted to humans through dog bites 100% preventable by vaccination An estimated 5 billion people at risk 22 million people exposed annually Around 70,000 die every year Over half the victims are children Every dog bite in canine rabies endemic countries must be considered a risk of exposure, causing anxiety and expense. Elimination of rabies in dogs would reduce the current number of human rabies deaths by > 95% It is general knowledge that rabies is a fatal viral disease; that close to 95% of all human deaths are caused by the bite of an infected dog and almost all cases of human rabies occur in Africa and Asia. We also know that rabies is 100% preventable by administering rabies vaccine, even after a person has been bitten by a rabid animal, they can be saved by receiving prompt post-exposure prophylaxis. Comparing the cost of interventions, on average the cost for one person to be vaccinated in Asia and Africa is between 30 to 100 $ compared to vaccinating a dog against rabies (and focusing on eliminating rabies at the source of infection) which is about 2 – 5 $. Prevention and control at the source is definitively more effective!

4 Why does rabies still cause deaths?
Continuous circulation of rabies in dogs 99% of rabies exposures are from dogs Unvaccinated dogs Roaming dog populations Lack of awareness on all levels about Responsible pet ownership – vaccinating pets, especially dogs Need for post-exposure vaccines (PEP) Primary wound care Rabies vaccines not accessible Greater cost of travel Increased risk of rabies onset Delays because of need to raise money Rabies is a forgotten disease of the poor A disease where no one survives to tell the tale Effectively controlled in the West & donors have turned their attention to other diseases Thirty years ago, cell culture rabies vaccines became available to treat humans exposed to rabies. These vaccines are among the most efficacious in the world. We have to wonder why is it that people across the world still die of rabies 30 years after these excellent vaccines were initially marketed. Reasons include a lack of awareness about pet vaccination, not understanding the need for PEP and even for primary wound care. In resource poor countries, vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin may be scarce, patients may not know where to find vaccines and may have challenges to travel to a clinic.

5 Global burden of human canine rabies: Preliminary conclusions on regional specificities & needs
Per capita death rates Courtesy K.Hampson & PRP 2013 The devastating impacts of rabies are largely untold. Beyond the death toll of predominantly children, millions of people seek post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) following potential exposures. PEP is a series of vaccinations which, in some cases, totals more than the monthly household income. And dogs too are victims. In endemic areas, fear of the disease regularly prompts dog culls which are often inhumane and, tragically, ineffective at controlling the disease.

6 Rabies – a Neglected Tropical Disease
Challenges: Affects marginalized populations Affordability and accessibility of vaccines Responsibilities in cross-sectoral collaboration Animal source (dog), countries’ other disease priorities and donors’ priorities Opportunities: Model for a ‘One Health approach’ Vaccine preventable (life saving) Rabies elimination as a global public good Education and community engagement Communication (WRD) and new technologies

7 Some lessons learned from a GARC perspective
Rabies prevention is possible Essential to support and encourage cross-sector and cross-community partnerships Public/private partnerships are critical – pooling of resources Many tools are already in place Vaccines, reduced regimens, dRIT, websites, etc. Dog rabies vaccination, en masse Communities & governments Both are necessary! Build on existing structures Education and awareness about rabies are crucial to communities and sustainability of programmes. Communication networks are powerful

8 Rabies prevention and control requires intersectoral support
Human Animal Education Advocacy & Communication Financial Legal Volunteerism NGOs Politicians The Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) believes that it is only through partnerships and working together that we can reduce the burden of rabies. GARC was founded in 2006 with one objective: to provide a collaborative platform to find workable solutions to reduce the burden of rabies across the world. At a minimum, there is a need for the support of the expertise listed on this slide. Education is a powerful tool for rabies prevention programs. There is an urgent need to educate the local community living at risk, especially the children who are most often affected. However, not every child is educated in a formal setting and new approaches for improving educational awareness are required. Advocacy and communication need to be improved in order to build community awareness and support for programs. If a community does not know why they should be supporting rabies prevention activities, or “what is in it for them”, then they are unlikely to get as involved as they will need to be. There is a need to consider how the program will be financed because, as all of us know, without financial support, rabies programs cannot be initiated. Sustainability is also critically important because no institution is likely to sign up to pay for large-scale rabies prevention programs forever and the governments of canine-rabies endemic countries need to be major partners with the understanding that they will ultimately take the responsibility for sustaining rabies prevention and reducing the burden of human rabies within their own borders. Legal experts are useful to ensure that rabies prevention ordinances are in place. Without legal support, laws and regulations that have been passed will not be able to be implemented. Additionally, how programs are going to actively be implemented will differ from country to country. GARC has found that community volunteerism can help to expand the number of people involved in rabies prevention programs. These volunteers often include the important contributions of NGOs.

9 International efforts
WHO, OIE and FAO have all spoken in support of working together within their tripartite alignment towards global elimination of canine rabies A tripartite statement released in time for World Rabies Day 2013 reaffirmed the 3 organizations’ commitment to working together.

10 What is World Rabies Day?
WHAT: A day of declaration and action WHY: To raise global awareness about rabies To promote education in local communities to control and prevent rabies WHERE: As many countries as possible WHEN: Annually on September THEME: #TogetherAgainstRabies Every year World Rabies Day is celebrated on September 28, the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine. World Rabies Day is about activism. It is about getting involved and taking part. And it is a chance to connect with others around the globe in efforts to raise awareness of rabies and prevent the needless suffering it causes for people and animals. In celebration of the interdependence of human and animal health, this year’s theme is #TogetherAgainstRabies. Too often, fear of rabies pitches people against dogs. But when dogs are vaccinated it stops the disease at its source and prevents human deaths.

11 GARC’s first initiative – raising awareness of a forgotten disease
World Rabies Day, launched in 2007 Engage the support of all international health organizations and all stakeholders (FAO, OIE, WHO) Inspire and support rabies activists to take action in their own communities on WRD. Establish a central website for information on WRD activities, educational material, reports. Provide basic ‘toolkits’ for conducting events Garner media coverage of events. Use WRD as a ‘reminder’ to get pets vaccinated.

12 Global Impact of World Rabies Day
Since September 2007… Reached over 200 million people Reached over 200 countries World Rabies Day provides a focus for activists around the world. It’s an opportunity for them to join a global movement while still tailoring the message to their circumstances and audience. Every event is important and the variety of activities and commitment of activists are a source of inspiration year after year. In 2013 there was representation from every continent (except Antarctica!) among the 179 registered events which ranged from national media campaigns to coloring competitions for children. Children bringing pets to be vaccinated in Napak, Uganda during WRD 2010 Photo: Dr Inangolet Francis Olaki WRD parade in Indian village Photo: Dr Ashwath Narayana 12

13 Who holds World Rabies Day events?
Anyone who cares about ending rabies - organisers are people from all walks of life, including: Physicians Veterinarians Teachers Health workers Students Scientists Municipalities Animal welfare NGOs Hospitals Government departments Fundraisers Businesses Clinics Volunteers Parents Community leaders Public health NGOs And groups working together! Rabies prevention has many beneficiaries and consequently World Rabies Day appeals to many groups. In particular, we encourage people to reach out to others as collaborative efforts often have the greatest reach.

14 Campaigns and resources
World Rabies Day 2014

15 Support for WRD events – 1/3
Comprehensive documents to support organizers are available on the GARC website at: Organisers summary – everything you need to know in one place Ideas - examples of previous events to serve as inspiration to potential organizers. Key messages – how to tailor messages to the audience. Event planning – comprehensive guide on how to organize an event.

16 Support for WRD events – 2/3
Communications – how to involve the media and use social media for maximum impact. Modifiable press releases - press release templates, just add details of your own organization and event Background on rabies and World Rabies Day – supporting information on rabies and the history and impact of World Rabies Day Policy toolkit – how to approach policy makers to create change and tools available to support them. All available from

17 Support for WRD events – 3/3
Global One Health Challenge – a competition for veterinary and medical students to implement a World Rabies Day event Me and my dog – a GARC public awareness campaign around support for canine vaccinations that can be incorporated into existing World Rabies Day events, or even adopted as a World Rabies Day event. For example: Set up a photo stall at a pet-friendly place and take photos of people with their dogs while handing out information Hold a national competition as part of the global Me and my dog campaign and provide prizes for the best photo More detail on these campaigns is available on the following slides.

18 Resources Posters – to raise awareness of rabies prevention; to advertise events Leaflets – to raise awareness of rabies prevention Teaching materials – age appropriate lesson plans and worksheets in various target languages Coloring pages - for younger children Video links All available from GARC is proud to be able to provide hundreds of free resources for anyone to access.

19 Global One Health Challenge
For World Rabies Day 2014 Competition for medical students and veterinary students To encourage intersectoral collaboration in rabies prevention Implementation of rabies prevention event in their communities Prize: Trip to Global One Health Conference (Spain) in 2015 for all team members Partners: International Veterinary Students’ Association and International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations In 2014 World Rabies Day will be recognized with the "One Health Challenge", a global competition to encourage medical and veterinary students to collaborate with each other and with partners from other disciplines to organize local rabies prevention or awareness events. Physicians and veterinarians are major stakeholder groups in tackling rabies and encouraging collaboration between the two for this preventable disease helps establish working practices for emerging zoonotic diseases too. Judges are looking for events that show: strong partnerships that demonstrate the One Health approach particularly between medical and veterinary students - other partnerships will also be considered effective outreach activities in the community - the number of people reached by the event

20 Me and my dog meandmydog.rabiesalliance.org
Unifying activity for anyone, anywhere who wants to raise awareness and show their support of rabies prevention. Share a picture of you and your dog and share your story at meandmydog.rabiesalliance.org facebook.com/GlobalAllianceforRabiesControl using #TogetherAgainstRabies We’re hoping for thousands of pictures from people all around the world with the single aim of raising awareness that vaccinating dogs protects people and animals.

21 Tools Guides and tips to help you take action on World Rabies Day Share your World Rabies Day event World Rabies Day logos in different languages One Health Challenge Me and my dog

22 Please spread the word And tell:
Potential World Rabies Day organizers in your network about the resources and support available Educational establishments about the Global One Health Challenge opportunity Everyone about Me and my dog campaign - and take part yourself! Thank you for reading this presentation. Now you’ve got this far, please keep going – do something for World Rabies Day! It is the individual effort of people like you that make World Rabies Day the global phenomenon it is. Your time and dedication make a difference. Thank you!

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