♦ 10-11 December 2015 ♦

[Relayed from OIE & WHO websites] A new framework to eliminate human rabies and save tens of thousands of lives each year has been launched by WHO, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Alliance for the Control of Rabies (GARC). The framework calls for 3 key actions - making human vaccines and antibodies affordable, ensuring people who get bitten receive prompt treatment, and mass dog vaccinations to tackle the disease at its source. Read more on the official meeting website, and the press releases on: WHO website, OIE website, and FAO website.
 

♦ 04 January 2016 ♦

[Relayed from the GARC website] Many of us invest time and resources in vaccinating dogs against rabies. We know this will not only protect dogs but also the people they live amongst. There are many examples of studies reporting vaccination of dogs to be a highly effective method of protecting public health, but do you have evidence from your own work? Many of us also invest in managing the dog population in other ways, such as limiting reproduction or persuading and supporting owners to provide greater care and oversight to their dogs. But how do you know if these activities are impacting dogs and their communities in the way you hoped? In short; how do we know our hard work is making a difference? (… See the guide)
 

♦ 04 January 2016 ♦

As every year, the EURL for rabies will organize a rabies diagnostic inter-laboratory test in 2016. This year, the test will be performed on a unique panel of 10 samples using at least one of the following techniques: FAT (Fluorescent Antibody Test), RTCIT (Rabies Tissue Culture Infection Test), Conventional RT-PCR and/or Real-Time RT-PCR. The test is composed of the panel to be tested with the chosen technique(s) as well as a corresponding online technical questionnaire for each tested technique. Registration is opened until 15 January 2016. Should you wish to register for the 2016 test, please contact the EURL for rabies for more information.
 

♦ 04 January 2016 ♦

The workshop for rabies 2016, initially forecasted for 20-21 April, has been postponed to 16 June. This year, contrary to the last times, the meeting will be held over one single day. The meeting place will be in Strasbourg town-centre, France. The agenda will include a discussion on the results of the inter-laboratory tests of rabies diagnosis organised by the EURL in 2015, some key points of the rabies laboratory activities, and an overview of the significant rabies events that occurred in 2015. Should you wish to attend this meeting, please contahttps://sites.anses.fr/en/minisite/rabies/contactct the EURL for rabies for more information.
 

♦ 06 November 2015 ♦

[Relayed from the GARC website]

A new campaign is calling for an end to human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies by 2030. The End Rabies Now campaign urges the international community to step up efforts to eliminate human deaths due to canine-mediated rabies around the world in just 15 years’ time. End Rabies Now is an initiative of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) and other global organisations A new campaign is calling for an end to human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies by 2030.

The End Rabies Now campaign urges the international community to step up efforts to eliminate human deaths due to canine-mediated rabies around the world in just 15 years’ time.

End Rabies Now is an initiative of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) and other global organisations. Campaign partners include the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Veterinary Association and World Animal Protection.

The campaign will call for more funds for mass dog vaccination, considered the most effective way of eliminating human deaths from rabies, caused predominantly by dog bites.

Read full article on the GARC website.

A website dedicated to the End Rabies Now Campaign has been developed and is accessible here.   
 

♦ 23 November 2015 ♦

The EURL for rabies team thanks all of you for the support and the kind messages received after the sad events in Paris. This time the event took place in the French capital, but we have to keep in mind that things are moving fast all over the world and innocents are killed nearly daily everywhere for the same motivations. Although it seems difficult to carry on under this now permanent kind of treat, life keeps going on and we will try to give you the same level of satisfaction in our work as before. Just keep in mind that if you were to come to France these coming months, controls are reinforced and it may take longer going through the borders.
 

♦ 03 December 2015 ♦
 
This year EC regulation changed as regards administrative organisation. From now on, EURLs have to follow Regulations (EC) N°882/2004 (Article 32 (7)) and (EU) 652/2014, and are requested to submit a work programme and an estimated budget for two years, and no more under an annual basis as it was done the previous years. The work programme established in 2015 by the EURL for rabies follows these new rules and plans activities for years 2016 and 2017. It has been validated by the European Commission on 19 November 2015. The work programme is available online for private members only.

 

♦ 03 December 2015 ♦

The workshop, initially forecasted for 20-21 April, has been postponed to mid-June. It is likely that it will be held over one single day. More information on the date will be given at the shortest notice.