Objectives:

•    To provide an overview of rabies in South Africa from a One Health perspective
•    To control rabies in animals in South Africa
•    To refresh the clinical management focusing on wound categorization and appropriate management
•    The role of Health Promotion and Communication on public awareness regarding Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)
•    To manage animal bite cases objectively and follow the "Integrated Bite Case Management" (IBCM) approach

Questions/key issues to be covered:

•    Implementing and understanding the "One Health" approach for rabies control, which necessitates strong collaboration between animal and human health sectors to prevent human rabies cases.
•    Controlling rabies in animals involves widespread dog vaccination programs.  
•    Refreshing clinical management requires detailed knowledge of wound categorization, immediate and thorough wound washing with soap and water.
•    Health Promotion and Communication focuses on effective Risk Communication and community engagement (RCCE) to educate and engage communities on safe interaction with animals and prevention of animal bites, early health seeking behavior and reporting suspected rabid animals bites.
•    Bite case management emphasizes understanding exposure risk, providing immediate first aid, and ensuring patients receive the full course of medical care and this approach ensures proper Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) administration, enhances public health surveillance by tracking potential rabies cases, and supports data-driven decisions for rabies prevention and control

Speakers:

Ms A Cele
Chief Director: Environmental Health and Port Health Services & Acting Chief Director: Communicable Diseases

Mr Wayne Ramkrishna
Deputy Director: Communicable Diseases

Mrs Unarine Makungo
Provincial Epidemiologist

Dr Vuyiswa Kumalo
Medical Officer

Dr Alicia Cloete
State Veterinarian

Dr Veerle Msimang
epidemiologist