National Anti-Rabies Campaign for Stray Dogs Launches in Egypt

Egypt has launched the first field phase of a nationwide anti-rabies vaccination campaign targeting stray dogs, under the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Egypt Free of Rabies 2030” strategy. The initiative, aligned with the World Health Organization’s global goal to eliminate rabies by the end of the decade, began in Cairo’s Ain Shams district.

In the campaign’s initial phase, veterinary teams vaccinated 293 free-roaming dogs, while 25 others were transferred to shelters for surgical sterilisation. Treated animals will be returned to their original environments to maintain ecological balance and prevent the entry of unvaccinated dogs, while aggressive or suspected rabid cases will be isolated in line with public health protocols.

Additionally, 12 purpose-built shelters will be constructed on the outskirts of major cities, and around 2,500 veterinarians will be recruited for the project. Initial facilities are planned for Cairo, Giza, Beheira, and Gharbiya, with further expansion across other governorates.

Supervised by the General Organisation for Veterinary Services, in coordination with the Federation of Animal Welfare Associations, the operation eventually aims to manage an estimated 10–11 million stray dogs across Egypt, and prohibits killing or poisoning animals.