WHO updates guidelines on rabies prevention

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its guidelines on rabies prevention, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and holistic approach to tackling the deadly disease.

Rabies is a viral disease that is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, typically through a bite. It causes acute inflammation of the brain and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, making it a serious public health concern.

The new guidelines recommend a multi-faceted approach to preventing rabies, including vaccinating dogs (the primary source of human rabies cases), improving access to post-exposure prophylaxis for those bitten by animals, and increasing public awareness about the disease.

By implementing these strategies, WHO believes that countries can work towards eliminating rabies as a public health threat by 2030.