From Rabies to Readiness: One Health in Action at the Lyon Summit

On 7 April 2026, global leaders, scientists and international partners gathered in Lyon, France for the One Health Summit, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, to accelerate action at the human-animal-environment interface.

A major outcome of the Summit was a new rabies-focused commitment led by the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health, alongside partners including Institut Pasteur and the International Alliance for Biological Standardization. Together, they announced the development of a governance model for community surveillance to prevent zoonotic diseases.

Initially focused on rabies, the initiative will include a global policy platform led by endemic countries, a working group of local authorities to support implementation, and a research programme to strengthen evidence and refine approaches. Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and the United Kingdom have already declared their intention to participate.

A key moment of the Summit was the side event From Rabies to Readiness: Community Surveillance for One Health, produced by Oshun Partnership. The session demonstrated how community-based surveillance systems linking human and animal health can support earlier outbreak detection, faster response and more targeted interventions — from post-exposure prophylaxis to mass dog vaccination — while also strengthening preparedness for future zoonotic threats.

Rabies remains one of the clearest and most solvable global health challenges. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, yet entirely preventable. More than 99% of human cases result from dog bites, and over 40% of victims are children.

By placing rabies at the centre of the One Health agenda, the Lyon Summit sent a strong message: eliminating rabies is not only achievable, but also a strategic investment in global readiness. Strengthened community surveillance, integrated data systems and cross-sector collaboration will be essential to building more resilient health systems and improving preparedness for future pandemics.

Watch here: From Rabies To Readiness