The Ministry of Health reaffirms its dedication to eradicating human fatalities associated with rabies by 2030. Within Algeria, the condition remains widespread and causes an average of 15 mortalities each year, with over 40 % occurring among youth under 15.
The Minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, declared Monday that “Algeria strives to accomplish the target of zero human casualties caused by rabies by 2030.” He spoke through an address delivered on his behalf by the ministry’s chief of staff, Dr. Hadj Maati Khalil Reda, marking World Rabies Day.
The minister further emphasized that “this occasion serves as a pivotal moment to renew our devotion to continuing national prevention and control initiatives against this infection,” highlighting the necessity of heightening awareness regarding rabies dangers and mobilizing all relevant stakeholders.
Observed this year under the motto “Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths,” World Rabies Day was commemorated in Algeria through a official gathering hosted at the Ministry of Health headquarters, attended by the World Health Organization (WHO) representative, sector executives, members of the national committee responsible for zoonotic disease prevention and control, the rabies expert panel, as well as delegates from involved sectors and civil society.
The minister recalled that rabies remains a global public health obstacle. “It persists across more than 150 nations and leads to roughly 60,000 fatalities every year,” he noted, specifying that the majority of these human losses occur in Asia and Africa, with bites from infected dogs representing the primary transmission vector to humans.
In Algeria, “rabies continues to be endemic,” noted Mr. Ait Messaoudene. The nation records roughly 15 human fatalities annually, with “over 40 % affecting children younger than 15.”
Confronted with this reality, the minister urged “sustaining and intensifying preventive and control measures,” notably through animal immunization, prompt and suitable medical care for bite victims, and the full distribution of post-exposure prophylactic therapies.
He additionally stressed the role of awareness, advocating for “amplifying educational and informational campaigns,” particularly targeted toward populations faceing the highest degree of vulnerability.
Algeria has committed itself for several decades to combating this zoonosis. To this effect, the minister cited the establishment of an intersectoral committee for preventing and managing animal-to-human transmissible illnesses, alongside the upkeep of a dedicated expert council on rabies. He also highlighted free vaccines, the adoption of standardized treatment guidelines, and ongoing training for medical personnel.
Supported by WHO, the Ministry of Health drafted the Strategic National Intersectoral Plan for Rabies Prevention and Control 2023-2027, aligning with global goals to eradicate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. This initiative relies, explained the minister, on the “One Health” framework, rooted in the deep connections uniting human health, veterinary health, and environmental safety.
It centers on five pillars: mass canine vaccination, population management and stray dog control, stronger epidemiological monitoring, immediate bite victim management, and organizing national alongside local educational drives.
According to the minister, “reaching the goal of zero human deaths from rabies by 2030 demands the joint commitment of all involved sectors and entities,” as well as enhanced coordination and active involvement from civil society and citizens.