Ukraine will develop a National Strategy for Rabies Control, aiming to reduce the risk of transmission from animals to humans and eliminate fatalities from the disease among the population, according to a press release from the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

"The adoption and implementation of the National Rabies Control Strategy will be a significant step towards enhancing intersectoral cooperation. It will clearly delineate the responsibilities and authorities between different sectors and create favorable conditions for collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, public organizations, and the private sector. Overcoming the disease is only possible through joint efforts," said Oleh Osiyan, First Deputy Head of the Food Safety Service.

The agency noted that rabies dynamics in Ukraine are changing due to the growing population of wild and stray animals. Additionally, some types of preventive measures are not being fully implemented due to the ongoing war.

The National Strategy will include a set of measures such as developing national protocols for human prevention and treatment, animal vaccination, raising public awareness, and implementing a monitoring and risk management program.

"This strategic document will help shape new public values, ensure the well-being and health of animals. The Food Safety Service, for its part, is developing and implementing several important initiatives, including vaccination campaigns for domestic and wild animals in front-line territories and cooperation with national and international partners," said Volodymyr Kusturov, Deputy Head of the Food Safety Service and Chief State Veterinary Inspector.

The strategy is being developed by representatives from the Food Safety Service, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, the Ministry of Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and international experts with support from the World Health Organization’s Ukraine office. The implementation of this document will require cross-sectoral cooperation involving and supporting various stakeholders within the One Health approach, the agency reported.