Role of Department of Animal Production &

Health in “Animal Rabies” Control

Tikiri Wijayathilaka (AD/VPH)BVSc, Master in TAP (Larenstein, Netherlands), MVM (Massey, NZ)

Cert. in Med. & Surg. (RGU, Japan),

Department of Animal Production & Health, P O Box 13, Peradeniya 20400

What made it important…..

• Dogs are the cause of rabies for 99% of human deaths

• Bovine & caprine also report rabies other than dogs

• Occurs in wild as well as domestic animals and transmits to human through close contact

• Reducing rabies incidence would be a result of a combination of controlling dog population & improving herd immunity through vaccination

Canine Bovine Caprine

Reported Cases of Rabies : January – July 2011

  Cattle Buffalo Canine Caprine Ovine Swine TotalJuly-Dec 2009 46 1 65 31 8  151Jan-June 2010 30 1 36 16    83July-Dec 2010 42 55 6    1 104Jan-June 2011 43 1 32 27  1 104

Total 161 58 139 74 8 2 442% of total cases 36.43 13.12 31.45 16.74 1.81 0.45 

DAPH Perspective

• Well recognized of importance in engaging in control of Animal Rabies

• Endorse the emphasis of international agencies (OIE, FAO) in engaging in animal rabies control

• Veterinary Public Health Policy – in relation to zoonoses (Rabies, Lepto, Brucella, TB, BSE)

• Road map of eradication of “Animal Rabies” in 2020

Roadmap to eradicate Animal Rabies in 2020• Objective – implement a sustainable animal rabies

control and prevention program through “VSUs” island wide to achieve zero animal rabies cases in 2020

• Deliverables – – Permanent “Rabies clinics” at VSUs– Active/Passive animal rabies surveillance system – Herd immunity over 80% – Responsible animal ownership – Collaborative mechanism between animal and human health

Milestones

• Year 1– Animal census– Levy free immunization, sterilization campaign– Surveillance & reporting– Harmonizing immunization, sterilization procedures

• Year 2– Responsible animal ownership– Animal movement management– Enhancing diagnostic capacity

Milestones….cont.

• Year 4– Mandatory immunization, registration– Launching fee levied immunization/sterilization– Over 70% herd immunity

• Year 2020– Over 80% herd immunity– Zero animal rabies clinical cases

Key strategies

• Make provisions for state veterinary services to undertake control and surveillance activities of the zoonoses

• Strengthening collaboration between public and veterinary health counterparts

• Integrating wildlife and environmental components to animal rabies control program

• Conducting strong health education programs promoting prevention & control of rabies

Rationale..

• Effective controlling of rabies needs effective animal rabies control

• Enhance herd immunization through responsible animal ownership, reducing number of births (in case of dogs)

• Enhanced health education for improvement in animal immunization and human prophylaxis

Key stakeholders & their roleOrganization Role to be playedDAPH Implementing the animal rabies control

programMinistry of Livestock & Rural Community Development lo

Financing & Monitoring

Ministry of Health Human rabies control, health education, technical collaboration

VSU/Local Government animal health staff

Ground level implementers in control programs, surveillance

NGOs/INGOs Promoters in responsible animal ownership, reducing environmental contribution

International Donor Community

Technical and financial assistance

Ways for collaboration

• Inter-ministerial steering committee – policy level intervention (Health, Livestock, Finance, Local Government)

• National Joint Technical Committee – harmonization of procedures, evaluation of control programs, developing surveillance programs

• National Advisory Committee – forum for public opinion, cost sharing, sharing of role

Thank you for the attention…..