As the world becomes smaller and pet travel increases, rabies has become a challenge that needs a global solution, so the British Small Animal Veterinary Association is marking World Rabies Day on 28th September by promoting the need for improved awareness with the public and the veterinary profession.
It is in Asia and Africa that the deadly consequences of rabies can be seen. In India alone 24 people a day suffer excruciating deaths from the disease, and over half of these are children. “British vets are on the frontline of meeting the challenge of human and canine rabies” says BSAVA President Katie McConnell. “BSAVA is supporting Mission Rabies, led by Luke Gamble from Worldwide Veterinary Service – and this initiative has already had a very real impact.”
Mission Rabies has huge ambitions, powered by vets and volunteers from 14 countries, to see an end to the disease. “Every year, millions of healthy dogs are inhumanely killed for fear of this deadly disease, yet this doesn’t halt the spread of rabies” Luke Gamble explains. “Vaccinating dogs against rabies has been proven to stop the spread of the disease to people and saves the lives of humans and dogs. Our aim is to eliminate rabies from the world by 2030. We will need the support of the veterinary profession and the public to do that”.
The current campaign to eliminate rabies in the State of Goa is on track – and by World Rabies Day the team will have undertaken 20,000 surgeries in the region. “In the last 5 months we have picked up 3-4 confirmed rabid dogs every week” says Luke. “We’ve also launched a concurrent community education and awareness programme that has reached 70,000 children in Goa alone. Yet there is still more to do and 2015 promises to be even bigger – we’re going to Blantyre, then we plan to take on Nepal, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia. The world isn’t so big – we can do this by 2030 if the team keeps growing.”
Whilst the most devastating impact is seen on other continents, there have been recent cases in Europe, and there are concerns about the potential for rabies entering the UK through illegal importation of dogs. “We would encourage veterinary practices to contact their local authority to ensure that they know how to report suspected cases before the need arises” says Katie McConnell. “Veterinary surgeons need to remain vigilant for pets exhibiting clinical signs that might fit within the rabies spectrum, especially if there is a recent history of travel abroad.”
So the message this World Rabies Day on the 28th September is for vigilance against the spread of the disease, hand-in-hand with support – practical or financial – for those facing the threat on a daily basis. To find out more about Mission Rabies visit www.missionrabies.com and for details about Word Rabies Day go to www.rabiesalliance.org. As Luke Gamble says “Anyone reading this, please think about joining us. You can make a huge difference.
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