New leader for Neglected Zoonotic Diseases at WHO

Dr Bernadette Abela-Ridder has recently taken on the role of team leader for neglected zoonotic diseases in the Department for the Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO), with responsibility for rabies control.

With degrees and a PhD in veterinary medicine and Tropical Veterinary medicine she has worked in clinical practice, carried out research in Cameroon and worked on veterinary drug approval for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the US Food and Drug Administration before joining the WHO.

Within WHO, she worked in the Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses, leading a capacity building network, the Global Foodborne Infections Network (GFN) and was the WHO focal point for the FAO, OIE, WHO Global Early Warning System for transboundary animal diseases, including zoonoses (GLEWS). 

Here she presents her views on rabies control:

“First and foremost, rabies is preventable! 

Human rabies prevention needs a partnership approach to improve coordination, advocacy and to translate research evidence into policy. Understanding the lessons learnt from control and elimination programmes for rabies and other diseases around the world and incorporating research findings will help the community identify what is needed and how to adapt strategies to fit the context of countries and regions.

Mass dog vaccination, responsible dog ownership and dog population control play a critical role in reducing the burden of disease in humans, when accompanied by rabies awareness and education, prompt attention of bite victims in endemic areas and more accessible and affordable post-exposure  prophylaxis.

We need to increase the understanding of rabies prevention at all levels of society and what each person and organization can contribute in order to limit the burden of human disease and its associated costs.

In some parts of the world, rabies transmitted by wildlife is (or has become after dog rabies has been controlled) the most prominent pathway for human rabies transmission. Bat-transmitted rabies in South America is one such example that has emerged as changes in the environment and closer human contact with wildlife lead to increased human exposure to rabies-infected wildlife species. Besides addressing rabies in dogs, rabies transmitted by wildlife also requires due attention.

There is a growing momentum to see human rabies eliminated. During the World Health Assembly of 2013, Member States requested that the World Health Organization sustains its leadership in the drive to overcome neglected tropical diseases (NTD), in Resolution WHA66.12. Rabies is listed as one of the priority NTDs.

The goals have been set for Latin American countries and South East Asia to eliminate human rabies transmitted by dogs by 2015 and 2020 respectively and then to maintain this status over time.  Other countries and regions are following suit. 

It will be important over the foreseeable future for international organizations to work with countries and the wider community, including donors, pharmaceutical companies, agencies, NGOs, philanthropists and universities, to maintain and expand their commitments to eliminating rabies in humans.”

Contributed by Dr Bernadette Abela-Ridder.