Efforts of rabies elimination with a One Health approach and SARE tools in Ethiopia

Abstract

Rabies is a viral zoonosis which affects nearly every region of the world. Once symptoms appear, the disease is 100 % fatal, although it is 100 % preventable through vaccination. Human rabies is typically caused by virus transmitted from the bite of an infected dog. Rabies results in significant economic costs and human fatalities, with children being disproportionately affected. Numerous countries have embraced a global goal to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. In line with this, Ethiopia has integrated a global prevention and elimination strategy into its national program, and is implementing various interventions. During 2022 and 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with One Health collaborators, vaccinated over 350,000 domestic dogs. Documenting these efforts and best practices is essential for sharing ongoing control and elimination experiences with other countries. This review outlines the burden and impact of rabies, the current status of the Ethiopian 2030 rabies control and elimination program, and its achievements and challenges. The review also highlights the current state of stakeholder collaboration and coordination efforts.