By Seif Gracien Hasingizwimana/Kigali, Rwanda,
Rabies causes about 59,000 human deaths every year worldwide, with most of the deaths occurring in Africa and Asia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Rwanda, efforts are being strengthened to prevent and eliminate the disease by 2030 through a One Health approach that brings together human health, animal health and environmental protection.
Dogs remain at the centre of rabies prevention efforts because they are responsible for up to 99% of human rabies cases. Children are also among those most affected, with children under the age of 15 accounting for about 40% of people affected by rabies.
The figures highlight the importance of preventing rabies through measures including dog vaccination, responsible ownership, disease surveillance, public awareness and preventing contact between domestic dogs, people and wildlife.
“Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease, and mass vaccination of dogs is one of the most effective ways to prevent human rabies,” according to the WHO.
Rwanda’s efforts to eliminate rabies by 2030 were highlighted during activities to mark World Rabies Day, observed every September 28. This year, activities were held in Kinigi Sector, Musanze District, where residents were sensitized about rabies prevention and encouraged to take better care of their dogs.
Residents brought their dogs for vaccination, while other dogs were sterilized as part of efforts to manage the dog population and reduce the number of animals roaming freely in communities.
Dog bites require monitoring and proper care
Dr Jean Claude Rukundo, an official at Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) in charge of monitoring livestock diseases, said dogs that bite people should not automatically be killed.
He explained that rabies can be transmitted through the bite of an infected dog and said the appropriate response after a bite is to place the animal in a designated area where it can be monitored and properly cared for.
“Dogs are animals that need to be cared for. They also need exercise and should not simply be confined inside a compound. However, when taken outside, they should be accompanied by their owners to prevent them from attacking or biting people, which could expose them to disease,” he said.
He also emphasized responsible dog ownership, including vaccination, proper feeding and supervision, as important measures for reducing the risk of bites and disease transmission.
Responsible ownership linked to rabies prevention
Theobald Kayiranga, Musanze District Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, urged residents to keep dogs only when they have the means to feed and care for them properly.
“We encourage people who want to own dogs to do so only when they have the means to feed and properly care for them. They should not rely on dogs to find their own food, including by allowing them to hunt,” he said.
He added that dogs entering Volcanoes National Park in search of food could create risks because a dog carrying a disease can transmit it to wildlife.
“As authorities, we cannot allow dogs to become a threat to Volcanoes National Park,” Kayiranga said.
Rwanda targets elimination by 2030
Ladislas Nshimiyimana, in charge of neglected tropical diseases at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), said the One Health approach is central to Rwanda’s efforts to eliminate rabies.
“This approach is an initiative that we need to attach great importance to because it protects the health of people, animals and the environment. We aim to eliminate rabies by 2030,” he noted.
He said particular attention is being paid to districts close to Volcanoes National Park because dogs can enter the forest and transmit diseases to wildlife or contract diseases there, which could also have consequences for tourism.
Ladislas urged residents to take precautions to prevent dog bites and seek appropriate medical attention promptly if they are bitten.
Rabies is preventable, but once clinical symptoms appear, it is virtually always fatal. Prompt post-exposure treatment for people exposed to the virus, combined with sustained dog vaccination, remains essential to preventing deaths.
Residents encouraged to vaccinate dogs
Claudine Uwingabire, a resident of Kinigi Sector, Kaguhu Cell, said the campaign helped her understand the importance of responsible dog ownership and vaccination.
“This initiative is important because it encourages people to take care of their dogs and have them vaccinated. This helps prevent them from roaming, entering the park or biting residents and transmitting rabies,” she said.
She encouraged other residents to participate in vaccination campaigns and sensitize their neighbors about rabies prevention to protect themselves as well as their dogs.
The campaign in Kinigi involved several institutions and partners, including the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), among others.
