10,000 Rabies Vaccinations Reached!

Rabies is among the deadliest zoonotic diseases on the planet. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 59,000 people die of rabies every year worldwide, but most of the fatalities occur in Africa and Asia. Globally, nearly 40% of the deaths from rabies are children under the age of 15. In Namibia, rabies presents a challenge for public health, rural livelihoods, and wildlife conservation. In shared landscapes, domestic animals can transmit the disease to humans and wildlife.

In 2018, Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) partnered with the Foundation for Human Rabies Education and Eradication (FHREE) to launch targeted programs in Namibia – with a focus on vaccinating dogs and cats. In 2019, the first vaccination campaign was rolled out in four communal conservancies in the Greater Waterberg Landscape, aiming to bring life-saving vaccines to underserved communities where veterinary care is scarce and risk of transmission between domestic animals, humans, and wildlife is high. We were very appreciative of the support that the Eric S. Margolis Family Foundation provided in 2019, which enabled CCF to successfully complete over 1,100 rabies vaccinations that year.

Over the last few years, the vaccination program has continued to expand and evolve. In 2024, the program transitioned to focusing on outreach in the more remote regions of the four conservancies. This year, CCF’s vaccination program celebrated a major milestone – 10,000 animals in the Greater Waterberg Landscape vaccinated against rabies through our mobile outreach initiative!

Recently, CCF partnered up with the Okakarara State Veterinary Office to offer free rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats this month – from September 8 to 18. And, on Friday, CCF staff supported Elvira’s Veterinary Practice in Otjiwarongo to offer free rabies vaccines for dogs and cats – and as a result, 368 pets were vaccinated against the deadly disease!

A recognized One Health program, our work directly contributes to Namibia’s national rabies strategy and the global ‘Zero By 30’ initiative, which aims to eliminate human deaths from rabies by 2030. In Namibia, this ongoing commitment to rabies outreach and education is saving the lives of humans – and wildlife.

CCF conservation work extend beyond the care and monitoring of cheetah. Your donation helps us deliver a wide range of conservation solutions.