Rabies kills someone every 10 minutes worldwide

Some 55,000 people die each year from rabies, a figure that is likely lower than the actual number, given the shortcomings in case reporting procedures in some countries. These statistics would surprise many French people, as this disease has largely faded from public consciousness over the past decade, despite two high-profile cases in the 2000s. However, in both instances, the source of the infection was outside Europe… Yet the Maghreb, in particular, remains one of the favorite destinations for French travelers. However, rabies is far from being under control there, mainly due to the high number of stray dogs. Every year, some tourists attempt to bring these animals back to France, as happened again this summer in the Vendée region. Rabies therefore remains a public health issue, even for France. This is especially true given that, in addition to its prevalence, the disease is transmitted through bites. And the primary victims of dog bites are… children. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) notes today that “ some analysts estimate that just 10% of the financial resources used to treat people bitten by a dog suspected of having rabies would be sufficient for national veterinary services worldwide to eradicate rabies at its source in domestic animals and thus prevent almost all human cases.” To eradicate rabies, it is necessary to develop programs to manage stray animals (without having to kill them) by combining them with vaccination campaigns for wildlife (as France did in the 1990s against fox rabies in the east) and domestic carnivores.   Further reading: A new case of rabies in Vendée Daily animal management in the event of rabies In the event of rabies, what status applies to which animal?