Donkeys play vital role in global fight against rabies
By Jill Dando News
Rabies, a deadly but preventable disease, can affect any warm-blooded mammal through infected saliva contacting open wounds.
The Donkey Sanctuary is supporting vaccination programs in Lamu, East Africa, and Oaxaca, Mexico, where communities depend on donkeys for their livelihoods.
In Lamu, the charity's clinic has provided free support for over 35 years. The recent vaccination campaign covered nearly 1,800 donkeys and 2,500 dogs across the archipelago. Donkeys were also vaccinated against tetanus due to increased cases.
The Mexican program, collaborating with local partners, vaccinated 4,000 donkeys in Oaxaca in 2022 and plans to reach 4,000 more by summer 2025.
The five-year project aims to vaccinate around 50,000 donkeys in total.
Despite eradicating human rabies transmission from domestic dogs in Mexico since 2019, confirmed cases in various animal species persist in 26 of 32 states. The country has a strong wildlife rabies reservoir, particularly in bat populations.
Rebekah Sullivan, who supported the Lamu program, emphasizes the importance of the 'one welfare' approach, vaccinating both donkeys and companion animals like dogs.
Dr. Solomon Onyango, Country Director for The Donkey Sanctuary in Kenya, stresses the importance of collaboration between communities, government, and welfare organizations to control and eradicate rabies, protecting both people and their vital donkeys.
To mark World Rabies Day, the Kenya team is working with a local drama group to engage donkey-reliant communities, highlighting the socioeconomic importance of donkeys and the need to protect them against rabies and tetanus.
