Rabies in Kenya

Zoonotic diseases present significant risks to human communities, whether they are in rural or urban settings. Additionally, infectious diseases are a serious threat to the survival of various endangered wild carnivores. Although northern Kenya was not prioritized in the initial phase of the National Rabies Elimination Strategy by the Government of Kenya, the Samburu County Department of Veterinary Services is committed to vaccinating 5,000 dogs each year. Alongside its partners, they acknowledge the increasing concerns regarding disease risks affecting domestic dogs, humans, and wildlife in the county.

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Kenya has launched the "National Rabies Elimination Strategy 2014-2030" with the goal of eradicating rabies by 2030. This viral disease poses a significant threat to the central nervous system and is one of the most dangerous zoonotic diseases worldwide. Children under 15, particularly in rural areas, are at the highest risk, as 98% of human rabies cases result from dog bites. Each year, approximately 2,000 people in Kenya die from rabies, but through mass vaccination of dogs and awareness campaigns, we can dramatically reduce this risk. Vaccinating 70% of the domestic dog population annually can effectively eliminate the threat of rabies to both humans and wildlife within five years.

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Vaccinating domestic dogs not only lowers the risk of human diseases but also protects wildlife and other domestic animals. Although there has been limited research on the impact of wild carnivores on the spread of rabies and distemper, observational reports suggest that dog bites occur near wildlife habitats. Studies show that rabies and distemper in domestic dog populations pose significant threats to wild carnivores, including critically endangered species like wild dogs. Distemper outbreaks have caused rapid declines in wild dog populations from 2017 to 2019, and many other wild carnivores are similarly affected by rabies and both canine and feline distemper.