Dr.Tjeerd Jorna
WVA-President

"Today 28th of September the Opening of the 3rd African veterinary Congress in Yaounde in Cameroun is on a special day too. I would like to commemorate to day is World Rabies Day. On the date of the day of Louis Pasteur's death we pay attention to Rabies in the world. Every year at least 55,000 people die by rabies and most of them are children under the age of 15. This is absolutely unnecessary for rabies is 100% preventable.

Therefore in 2007 the Alliance for Rabies Control started World Rabies Day with the objective to raise awareness and to enhance prevention and control of rabies. Rabies is a problem in Asia and Africa,but also it can be seen in Moscow and New-York-city. We as profession united in WVA have to support to eliminate canine rabies,to prevent human rabies and to control wildlife rabies. Good examples of succes can be seen in Mexico and the Baltic states in Europe.

I have a message for prevention is sometimes depending on culture [people and authorities deny rabies as a zoonotic disease]and sometimes it is depending of the competition between Ministries [Ministry of Health and Ministry of Livestck/Agriculture/Rural Affairs]. I would like to stress the governmental authorities that the prevention in animals is much cheaper than the post-exposure treatment in humans. In my opinion is the competition between Ministries in the case of Rabies control inhumane.
WORKING TOGETHER MAKES RABIES HISTORY.
That is what WVA wants too."