Tehran - Iran is calling for sustained investment and closer inter-agency cooperation to help achieve the global target of eliminating rabies by 2030, the head of the country’s Veterinary Council said.

 

Abbasali Matlabi, speaking at a national World Rabies Day conference at Iran University of Medical Sciences, described rabies as a neglected disease and stressed that controlling it requires coordinated action by health, veterinary and environmental authorities.

 

He highlighted mass vaccination of free-roaming dogs as a key measure for preventing the spread of the disease.

 

According to Matlabi, inadequate funding, weak monitoring, limited data and poor implementation of control programs are among the main challenges hindering rabies control.

 

He said children under 15, people living in poor and marginalized communities, and those with limited access to health education and medical services are particularly vulnerable.

 

Matlabi called for sustained funding for dog vaccination, an integrated system to record animal-bite cases, and stronger One Health surveillance and cooperation.

 

He added that effective rabies control requires coordinated efforts by veterinary and health authorities, municipalities and the media.