Rabies, a 'forgotten' yet deadly viral disease, kills approximately 2,000 Kenyans each year, predominantly children, despite being highly vaccine-preventable. The World Health Organisation (WHO) highlights that limited access to vaccines and animal control strategies in regions like Africa and Asia contribute to 59,000 global deaths annually.

• Rabies is a zoonotic disease transmitted primarily through bites or scratches from infected animals, with dogs accounting for up to 99% of human cases.
• The WHO emphasizes that prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), including wound washing and vaccination, is crucial in preventing the virus from reaching the brain.
• Available tools for elimination include dog and human vaccination, community education, and timely medical treatment; as of 2024, three WHO pre-qualified human rabies vaccines are available globally.