The members of the coordination committee for the Rabies Control and Elimination in Cameroon (RACE) project met on January 6, 2026, at the Pasteur Center of Cameroon, on the occasion of the 5th project coordination meeting. This meeting allowed for the conclusion of the 2025 activities and the definition of strategic directions for 2026.

The RACE project is funded by German cooperation, through the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Pasteur Institute in Paris, and aims to strengthen the fight against rabies in Cameroon.
The project’s implementation indicators for 2025 show significant progress. In total, 114,849 animals were vaccinated, including 97,173 dogs, 16,829 cats, and 2 monkeys. In addition, essential equipment was acquired for the benefit of the Pasteur Center of Cameroon, contributing to more effective project management.

The project also made it possible to provide rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for veterinary personnel working in the field, particularly at the departmental level. More than 150 human and animal samples tested positive for rabies. These samples will be used for full genome sequencing of the rabies virus, a protocol that is already being implemented, with the necessary reagents delivered.

It should be noted that five human cases of rabies were confirmed in 2025, all of which unfortunately resulted in the patients’ deaths. These cases came from the localities of Ntui (Central region, 3 cases), Lagdo (Northern region, 1 case), and Batibo (North-West region, 1 case).

For the year 2026, the committee members recommended the continuation and strengthening of the RACE project activities. This initiative is based on a multisectoral and multi-stakeholder approach, involving in particular representatives from MINSANTÉ, MINEPIA, MINEPDED, MINATD, MINDDEVEL, and OMSA.

The goal remains unchanged: to sustainably reduce the incidence of rabies in Cameroon through close collaboration between the human, animal, and environmental health sectors, for the benefit of the population.