Control and elimination of rabies in Europe: Challenges and strategies for a rabies-free Europe

At the beginning of the 21st century, rabies, the oldest known zoonosis to mankind, is still a notoriously underreported and neglected disease in many parts of the world causing tens of thousands of human deaths annually. Together with WHO and FAO, the OIE has taken a leadership role in reducing the public health and economic burden of rabies by controlling and eliminating the disease at the animal source and by identifying the current epidemiological situation in the OIE Regions as well as by identifying the control measures and the challenges faced by the Veterinary Services of Member Countries in implementing the OIE guidelines and standards. During the 83rd General Session of the OIE World Assembly of Delegates held in Paris in May 2015, the OIE Regional Commission for Europe adopted ‘Control and elimination of rabies in Europe: Challenges and strategies for a rabies-free Europe’ as the Technical Item 1 (with questionnaire) to be presented during the 27th Conference of the OIE Regional Commission for Europe to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 19 to 23 September 2016. The questionnaire developed to address Technical Item 1 was sent to all Member Countries of the Region and resulted in 49 of 53 Member Countries responding (92% response rate). This response rate, being the highest from this OIE Region on a questionnaire related to a Technical Item to be presented in a Conference of the OIE Regional Commission for Europe, indicates a high level of interest in this topic by the Member Countries. There was a range of responses across a variety of topics including epidemiological situation, rabies surveillance, diagnostic capacities and capabilities, reporting, legislation, use of guideline and standards, host reservoir, targeted rabies control programmes and related issues, stray dog population management, cross-border collaboration, intersectorial collaboration and the challenges ahead related to this disease. The variability of responses reflects differences in epidemiological situations in the Region ranging from freedom of disease (51%) to endemic occurrence in either wildlife- or in both dog- and wildlifemediated rabies (49%). In addition, the variability of responses demonstrates differences in challenges associated with disease surveillance and control, including public awareness and communication. Although 34% of endemic countries envisage elimination of rabies within the next five years, one third of responders (32%) indicated the desire for OIE to be more proactive and to provide guidance to Member Countries that would support Competent Authorities and Veterinary Services in their efforts of eliminating rabies form their countries. The greatest emphasis was placed on rabies surveillance, standardised and efficient rabies control measures (including training and facilitation of cross border activities), as well as adequate support in the design, financing, implementation and monitoring of stray dog population management programmes.