Dear Readers,

It is with great pleasure that we introduce the Special Issue on Rabies in West Africa, featured in Volume 5, Numbers 1 & 2 of the Journal of Public and Allied Health Sciences. Rabies, a preventable viral disease, continues to pose significant public health challenges in West Africa, affecting both human and animal populations. This special issue brings together a diverse collection of perspectives and original research articles that delve into various aspects of rabies control, epidemiology, health economics, and health behavior and promotion within the region.

The issue opens with an insightful exploration by Babasola O. Olugasa and colleagues, examining the progress and challenges of fostering One-Health collaboration for rabies control within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the past decade. This foundational piece sets the stage for understanding the complexities of regional cooperation in combating this deadly disease.

Following this, Ayodeji O. Olarinmoye et al. present a comprehensive time series analysis of dog bite victims and human deaths due to rabies in Plateau State, Nigeria, shedding light on the epidemiological trends and implications for achieving the ambitious goal of rabies elimination by 2030.

The Special Issue further delves into the health economics of rabies control, with Emmanuel A. Adeaga and colleagues providing valuable insights into the market survey of rabies vaccines in Nigeria and its implications for strategic actions towards elimination.

Additionally, the issue explores health behavior and promotion in the context of rabies prevention, featuring studies by Ifeoluwapo O. Akanbi et al. and Roland Suluku et al., which examine preventive practices and antibody levels among students in Nigeria, as well as the experiences and implications of a COVID-19 variation of rabies conference held in Sierra Leone.

Concluding the issue is an epidemiological study by Akanbi A. Alimi et al., investigating the epidemiology of mycobacterial infections in cattle and livestock workers in Osun State, South-Western Nigeria, highlighting the interconnectedness of zoonotic diseases in the region.

The articles compiled in this Special Issue collectively contribute to our understanding of the multifaceted nature of rabies control and prevention efforts in West Africa. They underscore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based interventions, and sustained commitment towards achieving the shared goal of rabies elimination by 2030.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all the authors, reviewers, and contributors who have made this Special Issue possible. We hope that the insights and findings presented herein will inform policy, practice, and research initiatives aimed at addressing the ongoing challenges of rabies in West Africa.

Sincerely,

Prof. Dora O. Akinboye

Editor-in-Chief

Journal of Public and Allied Health Sciences