STRONGER TOGETHER: Ending Rabies is a Shared Responsibility

No profession, institution or community can eliminate rabies alone. On World Rabies Day, the Veterinary Association of Zambia calls on every partner in the One Health system to stand stronger together.

The Veterinary Association of Zambia (VAZ) joins the global community in commemorating World Rabies Day 2026 under the theme “Stronger Together.” The theme carries a simple but powerful message: rabies elimination is a shared responsibility.

Reaching the global goal of zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 — #ZeroBy30 — will take coordinated action across the entire One Health system. As veterinary professionals, we know that rabies is not simply an animal health problem. It is a public health, community and One Health challenge. The health of people, animals and the environment is interconnected, and our response must reflect that reality.

Why rabies still demands our attention

Rabies remains one of the oldest and most feared diseases known to humankind. According to the World Health Organization, dogs are responsible for up to 99% of human rabies cases, and once clinical signs appear the disease is virtually always fatal. Yet rabies is entirely preventable: vaccinating dogs stops the virus at its source, and prompt post-exposure care saves the lives of people who are bitten. Every death from rabies is therefore a death that could have been prevented.

A Zambian milestone in rabies diagnosis

This year, VAZ is proud to spotlight a defining milestone achieved under the project “Enhancing Rabies Surveillance in Zambia Using Lateral Flow Devices for Diagnosis and Genome Surveillance,” led by the University of Zambia School of Veterinary Medicine, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Central Veterinary Research Institute, with technical support from Nagasaki University, Hokkaido University and Oita University.

The project has introduced the ADTEC Rabies Lateral Flow Device (LFD) Card to frontline services. Responders can now obtain a reliable rabies test result in approximately 15–20 minutes at the point of sampling, rather than waiting for samples to travel through the referral system for confirmation. Beyond rapid diagnosis, the same platform supports national genomic surveillance, adding valuable information to Zambia’s growing database of rabies virus strains.

The LFD roll-out at a glance, as reported by the project in September 2026.

This is an important step towards faster decision-making, stronger surveillance and more timely public health action — and a clear demonstration of what the veterinary, laboratory and public health sectors can achieve when they work as one.

Our call to action

VAZ calls for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders: veterinary professionals, healthcare workers, public health and local authorities, laboratories, animal welfare organisations, law-enforcement agencies, communities, researchers and development partners. In particular, the Association calls for:

What this means for our members

• Lead in your community. Champion dog vaccination and responsible ownership with every client and at every opportunity.
• Strengthen surveillance. Report and investigate suspected rabies cases promptly, and submit samples so that every case counts in the national picture.
• Work across sectors. Build links with local health facilities so that people bitten by suspect animals are referred for post-exposure care without delay.

Together, we can make Zambia a place where no one dies of rabies. Stronger together — towards zero by 2030.

Issued by the Veterinary Association of Zambia
Media enquiries: publicity@vaz.org.zm | +260 211 238720 | www.vaz.org.zm