Beyond the Statistics: Why Rabies Remains a Major Public Health Concern!

(Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 05 December 2025)- The School of Veterinary Medicine recently hosted a highly successful and critically important Friday Seminar, featuring Dr. Workneh Wondimagegn. His presentation, titled “Global Epidemiology of Rabies: Status and Key Challenges,” served as a vital call to action, reminding our community of the seriousness of this ancient yet entirely preventable disease. The central message was clear: achieving elimination requires collective responsibility.

Dr. Workneh initiated the discussion by grounding the topic in science and exploring the disease's foundational aspects. He detailed its critical zoonotic importance and covered the virus's environmental stability and methods for inactivation. The seminar also provided deep insight into the devastating neuroinvasive pathogenesis of rabies and its complex transmission mechanisms. This foundational knowledge set the stage for a sobering look at the scale of the crisis globally and locally.

The focus then shifted to the devastating reality of the disease's reach. Dr. Workneh provided an overview of Global Epidemiology, showing why rabies remains a significant challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. He highlighted the severe Health and Economic Burden it imposes. This crisis hits close to home: Rabies in Ethiopia remains a major concern for both public health and livestock. He shared the alarming statistics that underscore the urgency; Ethiopia records almost 38,000 suspected exposures and 297 human deaths annually, a figure that calls for immediate and sustained intervention. The disease is particularly feared in Africa and Asia, impacting poorer communities due to limited healthcare access and historically predominant neglect by Western and European nations.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the seminar provided a realistic roadmap for change. Dr. Workneh was candid about the significant Challenges, including weak coordination among sectors, limited access to quality vaccines (both human and canine), and insufficient funding. Crucially, he stressed the powerful Opportunities now driving progress: the Global Zero by “2030” Initiative, the mandatory One Health Approach, and Ethiopia's own National Rabies Control and Elimination Strategy. The seminar concluded with a renewed sense of purpose, affirming that eliminating rabies is not a distant dream, but an achievable goal with focused, collective effort.

“ACT NOW: YOU, ME, COMMUNITY”

By: Dr. Dagmawi Yitbarek, SVM Website Administrator