Battling Rabies in Lamu, Kenya: A Story of Resilience and Hope

On the far eastern coast of Kenya lies Lamu Island, a place known for its rich Swahili culture, car-free streets, and the famous colony of cats that has even inspired a book titled The Cats of Lamu. The island's donkeys, essential for transporting goods, play a significant role in the livelihoods of the local people. With a population of approximately 7,430 cats and 4,200 dogs as of a 2022 County Government Veterinary Office survey, Lamu faces a constant risk of a rabies outbreak. The presence of numerous cats, donkeys, and an increasing number of dogs heightens this risk.

Rabies remains a critical issue in Kenya, where an estimated 2,000 human deaths occur annually due to the disease. For the past 18 years, the Lamu Animal Welfare Clinic (LAWC), a charity organization founded by Ms. Richarde Traeger, has been at the forefront of rabies prevention in the Lamu Archipelago.

Since joining LAWC in 2022, I have worked tirelessly to combat this deadly disease. My duties include vaccinating healthy dogs brought to the clinic, conducting mobile outreach clinics to provide treatment and vaccination, and promoting dog neutering as a population control method while vaccinating the sterilized dogs. Additionally, I run weekly cat trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) programs and host neutering clinics throughout the archipelago. To spread awareness, I also hold animal welfare and rabies education sessions in local schools. These efforts are vital in a community where a significant portion of the population has little formal education.

The work we do inspires me, as I envision a future where Lamu and the entire country are rabies-free, aligning with the global goal to eliminate rabies by 2030. It’s heartening to see local residents, including children, bring their pets for vaccination or to hear kids on the street recognize me as "the doctor who taught us about rabies in school." These moments signal that our outreach efforts are making a tangible impact.

Challenges remain, particularly in addressing the cultural views around neutering. While many local Swahili residents now willingly bring their cats for sterilization due to the high reproductive rate and the burden of caring for kittens, dog neutering is still met with resistance. This is partly because dogs are bred for income and perceived as losing their protective nature after sterilization. Security concerns related to Al-Shabab attacks and the remote nature of Lamu also make it difficult to recruit additional veterinarians to support our mission.

Despite these hurdles, LAWC's work is making a difference, supported by a growing community awareness and intermittent aid from tourists who donate to the clinic or adopt stray animals. Tourism is slowly recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and past security issues, and visitors often play a role in feeding street cats and supporting animal welfare efforts.

Our fight against rabies continues, driven by the belief that with perseverance and community collaboration, we can protect Lamu’s people and animals alike. Follow our journey and support our work through our Facebook page.

Article contributed by Dr. Peterson, LAMU, Kenya.