EJCAP 26(1), Spring 2016

Education is an important part of FECAVA. FECAVA not only directly funds small amounts of CVE in emerging countries like Georgia, Belarus and Armenia, but also organises a Symposium every year on a subject where vets play key roles, often non-clinical. In October 2015 in Barcelona, the topic of the symposium was rabies. Speakers discussed pet passports (Cathy Tourlouse, Belgium), rabies vaccination (Katie Hampson, Scotland), clinical cases in practice (Denis Novak, Serbia) and rabies eradication (Luke Gamble, UK). Three of the talks are presented in this issue.

Luke is a vet in mixed practice in the UK, who wanted to do something about rabies. The disease kills 60,000 people (mainly children) every year, and is 100% preventable and eradicable, simply by vaccinating dogs. So he set up World Veterinary Services and Mission Rabies and so far has successfully vaccinated about 250,000 dogs in Africa and India. As you can imagine, the hurdles to overcome are immense in both education of the public and at local government level, so the figure is testament to Luke's dogged commitment to the cause. Luke constantly needs volunteers so email info@wvs.org.uk to get in touch with his organisation. Any help Luke can get unlocking the doors of OIE and WHO to take on rabies as a worldwide eradication project would be greatly appreciated.