On World Rabies Day 2023 on 28 September, Mayhew is on track to combat canine-mediated rabies in Kabul. The team is celebrating over two years of zero recorded cases of canine-mediated rabies in humans in Kabul.

Before Mayhew began working in Afghanistan, there were on average 38 human deaths a year from rabies in Kabul, where there was ineffective dog culling to try and tackle the problem. The ground-breaking work of Mayhew’s team in Afghanistan, focusing on vaccination and neutering, provides an effective and humane solution to stop deaths from rabies and control the roaming dog population.

Now, with more than 110,000 dogs vaccinated and more than 40,000 neutered, there have not been any recorded cases of rabies in dogs in the city and no recorded cases of deaths from rabies in humans in the city for more than two years.

Dr Abdul-Jalil Mohammadzai DVM, Mayhew’s Afghanistan Country Director, explains why large-scale canine vaccination is vital to protecting people, “We know that vaccinating dogs is the most effective and humane way to eliminate rabies. That’s why the team has worked with such dedication over these past years to save the lives of dogs and of the residents of Kabul. Raising awareness about dog behaviour and bite prevention for both children and adults is an essential part of our work as it not only reduces the risk of harm but also provides a better understanding of how people can live more harmoniously with the dogs in their communities.”