Rabies remains one of the deadliest yet most preventable diseases affecting both humans and animals. Despite being entirely preventable through timely intervention, it continues to claim lives—particularly in rural communities where awareness, access to vaccines, and coordinated response systems are limited.
In January 2025, the One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI) was called into action following a confirmed rabies outbreak in Benue State. What followed was a rapid, coordinated, and community-driven response that highlights both the challenges and the possibilities of managing zoonotic diseases through a One Health approach.
The Outbreak: A Community-Level Signal
The response began with a critical early warning signal from the field. On January 2, 2025, a veterinary graduate working within rural communities reported a suspected rabid dog in Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area. The information had been relayed through a community surveillance agent, demonstrating the importance of local networks in detecting zoonotic threats early.
Initial investigations revealed that the dog had already bitten multiple individuals, including members of the vendor’s household. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the OHDI team immediately mobilized to retrieve the carcass for laboratory confirmation. After negotiation with the dog owner, the team secured the sample, safely handled the remains, and transported the specimen to the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) for testing.
By January 4, 2025, the diagnosis was confirmed: rabies positive.
What began as a single report had now become a confirmed public health emergency.
Rapid Coordination and One Health Response
Following confirmation, OHDI supported the Benue State government to activate a multi-sectoral response, engaging key government institutions and partners across human and animal health systems. The Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bureau of Livestock Development and Transboundary Animal Disease Control (BLDTADC), and other stakeholders were promptly notified.
A high-level stakeholders’ meeting was convened in Makurdi, bringing together representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Ministry of Health, veterinary services, professional associations, and the media. This coordination was critical in aligning response efforts and ensuring a unified approach.
At the meeting, the outbreak was formally declared, and a series of response actions were agreed upon, including:
- Identification and management of exposed individuals
- Community sensitization campaigns
- Ring vaccination in the affected community
- Mass dog vaccination across affected LGAs
- Development of a subnational rabies eradication plan
This coordinated response underscored the importance of linking community-level detection with institutional action.
Community Engagement and Mass Vaccination
Effective outbreak response does not stop at coordination, it must reach the community.
On January 28, 2025, OHDI and partners conducted a large-scale community engagement session in Adikpo, involving traditional leaders, dog vendors, youth groups, women’s associations, schools, and transport workers. The goal was to raise awareness, dispel myths, and promote safe practices around dog handling and rabies prevention.
This was followed by a mass dog vaccination campaign from January 29 to 31, during which 492 dogs were vaccinated.
Alongside vaccination, community members received educational materials and guidance on recognizing rabies symptoms, preventing dog bites, reporting suspected cases and seeking immediate care after exposure. These efforts were crucial in reducing further transmission risk.
Saving Lives Through Timely Human Intervention
Perhaps the most critical aspect of the response was the management of human exposure. During the vaccination campaign, seven individuals reported recent dog bites. Among them, three had been bitten by the confirmed rabid dog, placing them at extremely high risk of infection.
In collaboration with Saint Monica’s Hospital in Adikpo, these individuals were immediately assessed and initiated on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)—a life-saving intervention that must be administered promptly to prevent rabies. The victims received the full five-dose PEP regimen in accordance with global guidelines, effectively preventing the progression of the disease.
This intervention demonstrates a critical lesson: Rabies is almost always fatal, but never if treated in time.
Challenges in the Response
Despite the successes, the response faced notable challenges. There were instances of limited cooperation and resistance from some government stakeholders, which slowed coordination efforts. In addition, low levels of community awareness and entrenched practices, such as free-roaming dogs and informal dog trade, continue to increase vulnerability to rabies outbreaks. These challenges highlight the need for sustained investment in public awareness, institutional collaboration and preventive systems
Key Lessons for Health Security
The Benue rabies outbreak response reinforces several critical lessons for Nigeria and beyond:
- Early detection starts in the community: Without the initial report from a local surveillance agent, the outbreak could have escalated further.
- One Health coordination is essential: Human health, animal health, and environmental factors must be addressed together, not in silos.
- Vaccination saves lives: Both animal vaccination and human PEP are critical pillars of rabies control.
- Community engagement is non-negotiable: Behavior change is as important as medical intervention.
Looking Ahead: Towards a Rabies-Free Future
Encouragingly, the outbreak response has catalyzed broader commitments, including plans for a state-level rabies eradication strategy aligned with the global goal of eliminating dog-mediated rabies by 2030. For OHDI, this response is part of a broader commitment to strengthening community-based prevention, surveillance, and response systems through integrated approaches such as CD-PRES.
The Benue rabies outbreak serves as both a warning and a lesson that zoonotic diseases remain a persistent threat. But with early detection, coordinated response, and community engagement, their impact can be significantly reduced. Through this response, OHDI demonstrated what is possible when science, community action, and cross-sector collaboration come together.
The work continues, but so does the commitment to building safer, healthier, and more resilient communities.
