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- Zimbabwe | International Course on Surveillance and Control of Rabies Kicks Off
International Course on Surveillance and Control of Rabies Kicks Off in Zimbabwe

International Course on Surveillance and Control of Rabies © Martha Katsi, Cirad
This marks the eighth edition of a series that has been previously organized in Senegal (2013), Cambodia (2015), Cameroon (2016 and 2023), Iran (2017), Morocco (2019), and Ivory Coast (2022).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rabies is estimated to cause 59,000 human deaths annually across more than 150 countries, with 95% of these cases occurring in Africa and Asia. Due to underreporting and uncertain estimates, this figure is likely an underestimate. The disease burden is higher in rural, impoverished populations, with approximately half of the cases involving children under 15 years old.
Organised by the Directorate of Veterinary Services, the Faculty of Veterinary Science of Zimbabwe, the National Institute of Health Research, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the French Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) and the Pasteur Institute of Paris in collaboration with international partners such as WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), the PACMAN (Diagnostic platform for animal and zoonotic diseases) project and COHESA (Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa), with additional financial supports from the French Embassy in Zimbabwe, Sanofi Pasteur and Merck Sharp and Dowme, this course aims to enhance the capacity of professionals in both the human and animal health sectors to combat and eliminate dog-mediated rabies.
Course Highlights.
The course will cover crucial topics, including:
- Rabies Epidemiology and Surveillance: Understanding rabies transmission dynamics and the importance of surveillance.
- Rabies Control and Elimination: Strategies such as mass dog vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis.
- One Health Approach: Emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach involving human and animal health sectors, alongside community engagement.
Training Objectives - Increase Awareness: Enhance communication about rabies in Southern Africa.
- Identify Gaps: Discuss opportunities for rabies control and elimination, and elaborate on strategic solutions.
- Improve Knowledge: Focus on rabies epidemiology, especially incidence rates.
- Prophylaxis Discussion: Address current rabies prophylaxis in humans and propose solutions to increase access to post-exposure prophylaxis.
- Dog Vaccination: Expand knowledge on dog rabies vaccination and dog population management.
- Networking: Create a regional rabies network promoting a One Health approach and dog vaccination
Participants will include professionals from human and animal health sectors, such as physicians, veterinarians, and public health officials from Southern Africa
This course is part of global efforts to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030, as outlined in the WHO's global strategic plan, ZERO BY 30.
The program will leverage new e-Learning opportunities and existing resources from WHO, WOAH, GARC, and other international organizations.
The on-site course will focus on practical sessions, including bench work, demonstrations, and hands-on activities (mass vaccination and field study) complementing the theoretical components provided through pre-training sessions and lectures.