Contact person: Salome Dürr
Duration: Sep 2022 – Aug 2026
Effective rabies control is only possible if dogs are vaccinated and people contain post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after being bitten by a rabid animal. In Uganda, 90 % of the population lives in an area where there is a risk of rabies transmission from dogs. At the same time, laboratory capacity is limited. Dog vaccination coverage and PEP administration are low. To tackle this multi-faceted health problem, a holistic approach is needed that involves all relevant stakeholders and includes both quantitative and qualitative methods. In addition to health professionals from human and veterinary medicine, animal owners and keepers, including children, as well as the village community and teachers play an important role. We propose here the improvement of local laboratory capacity, optimisation of dog vaccination and the introduction of a web-based, integrated rabies surveillance system including evidence-based administration of PEP (eRabies) for humans and animals, based on a One Health approach.
This project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. For more information: eRabies surveillance - a way forward to rabies elimination in Uganda (snf.ch)
