Canine rabies: The story of a battle against an insidious danger in Central Africa

Rabies is a disease that epitomizes health injustice: it is totally preventable, but continues to kill. Worldwide, more than 59,000 people die each year, the majority of them children. In the Central African Republic, rabies remains a silent threat, often relegated to the status of a neglected disease.Every death is an avoidable tragedy. Every bite is a warning. Yet rabies persists because dogs, the main vectors, are not vaccinated on a large scale. Post-exposure vaccines are not available everywhere, especially in rural areas. Communities lack information on the simple steps to take after a bite. Public health policies do not yet include rabies as a national priority. Regional cooperation remains inadequate, despite the fact that the disease knows no borders.These challenges are not insurmountable. They are a reflection of historical neglect, but also an opportunity for collective victory if we decide to act.