Egypt Begins Free Rabies Vaccination Campaign for Stray Dogs Nationwide

Egypt’s General Authority for Veterinary Services launched a week-long campaign on Sunday, 1 November, to vaccinate stray dogs against rabies free of charge across all governorates, as part of the country’s efforts to eliminate the disease by 2030.

The campaign will be implemented through veterinary directorates across the country, with field teams working in coordination with relevant authorities to reach targeted areas and vaccinate dogs in accordance with approved veterinary procedures.

The initiative also includes public awareness activities aimed at educating citizens about the risks of rabies, the importance of vaccination in preventing transmission, and how to interact safely with dogs.

Egypt’s national strategy aims to eliminate rabies by 2030, with a previously announced target of vaccinating 70 percent of the country’s stray dog population.

The authority called on citizens to cooperate with veterinary vaccination teams, report suspected rabies cases and dog bites, and seek medical attention immediately at the nearest healthcare facility following an animal bite.

Reports and inquiries can also be submitted through local veterinary directorates and units or by calling the veterinary services hotline at 19561. The authority stressed that the hotline is intended for veterinary reporting and does not replace medical treatment.

The campaign builds on Egypt’s broader efforts to manage its stray dog population through vaccination and sterilisation. In March, the Ministry of Agriculture reported that 16,311 stray dogs had been vaccinated and 1,660 sterilised since the beginning of 2026.

Egypt’s rabies elimination strategy was developed in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2021. It aims to eliminate human deaths caused by dog-mediated rabies by 2030 through mass dog vaccination, improved disease surveillance, public awareness, and access to preventive treatment.

Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, usually through bites or scratches. The disease is virtually always fatal once clinical symptoms appear, although prompt treatment following exposure can prevent it.

The WHO advises anyone bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal to immediately wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and seek urgent medical attention for assessment and preventive treatment.