WHO RESPONSE THE GLOBAL ACTIVITIES

WHO RESPONSE

Rabies is included in the neglected tropical disease roadmap of WHO. As a zoonotic disease, it requires close cross-sectoral coordination at the national, regional and global levels.

GLOBAL LEVEL ACTIVITIES

In December 2015, a global framework to reach zero human rabies deaths by 2030 was launched by WHO and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO) and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. This initiative marks the first time that both the human and animal health sectors have come together to adopt a common strategy against this devastating and massively neglected disease.

Monitoring and surveillance of the disease should be a central element of every rabies programme. Declaring a disease notifiable is crucial to establish functional reporting. This should include mechanisms for the transmission of data from the community level to the national level and on to the OIE and WHO. This will provide feedback on programmer efficacy and allow for actions to be taken to improve areas of weakness.

-          Share data for rabies with WHO

Stockpiles of dog and human rabies vaccines have had a catalytic effect on rabies elimination efforts. WHO, with partners, is working to forecast the global need for human and dog vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin, to understand the global manufacturing capacity and to explore bulk purchasing options for countries through WHO/UNICEF (human vaccine and RIG) and OIE/WHO (animal vaccine) mechanisms.

In 2016, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), established a working group on rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins. The working group is currently reviewing the scientific evidence and the relevant programmatic considerations for their use and best vaccine regimens as well as evaluating the potential impact of new biological. The proposed recommendations resulting from this work will be considered by SAGE in October 2017 to update WHO’s position on rabies immunization.

With the support of WHO, selected countries in Africa and Asia are conducting prospective and retrospective studies to gather data on dog bites and rabies cases, PEP treatment and follow-up, vaccine needs, and programmer delivery options. This information will provide further evidence to support the need for investment in rabies programmers and will inform the vaccine investment strategy of the GAVI Alliance in 2018.