On September 27, the Fifth People’s Hospital of Jinan, affiliated with Shandong Second Medical University, successfully hosted the inaugural meeting of the Animal‑Bite Prevention and Management Branch of the Shandong Provincial Society of Public Health, along with its first academic symposium. The event received high attention and strong support from the Shandong Provincial Society of Public Health, the Shandong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the leadership of the Fifth People’s Hospital of Jinan, as well as national, provincial, municipal, and district‑level officials and experts in the fields of animal‑bite injuries and disease prevention and control. Attendees included Wang Zhengwu, President of the Shandong Provincial Society of Public Health; Shen Weiping, Party Branch Secretary and Secretary‑General; Li Gaoquan, Director of the Organization and Management Department; Kou Zengqiang, Member of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Shandong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Yang Guangcheng, Vice President of the Fifth People’s Hospital of Jinan; and leading professors who head canine‑bite emergency surgery clinics at major hospitals in Beijing and across Shandong Province.

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This conference marks another historic milestone, following the July 2023 awarding of the title “Shandong Provincial Training Base for Post‑Exposure Management of Animal‑Bite and Traumatic Injuries” to Jinan Municipal Fifth People’s Hospital. It fills a critical gap in this specialized sub‑association within the Shandong Provincial Society of Public Health, elevates and solidifies the hospital’s standing in the national arena of animal‑bite injury management, and represents a major breakthrough in the hospital’s efforts to prevent and treat such injuries. Jinan Municipal Fifth People’s Hospital has officially become the provincial leading unit of the “Sub‑Association on Post‑Exposure Prophylaxis and Management of Animal‑Bite Injuries” under the Shandong Provincial Society of Public Health, with Professor Chen Chengyong elected as the inaugural chairperson. He pledged to guide the association in vigorously advancing academic research, technical training, and public education initiatives.

The academic exchange sessions were exceptionally engaging, with nationally renowned professors delivering in-depth lectures and sharing their latest research findings and cutting-edge technologies. Experts and department directors from across the country presented real-world case studies, exchanging insights on clinical management and innovative approaches. During their presentations, conference speakers highlighted state-of-the-art manufacturing processes for rabies vaccines—namely, a sheet‑type carrier system combined with a basket‑type fixed‑bed perfusion culture technique—which not only ensures high production capacity but also facilitates effective impurity control in downstream processing. The experts emphasized that, when selecting viral strains for rabies vaccine production, particular attention should be paid to their genetic homology. Among the strains currently used in China, the human‑derived CTN‑1 strain exhibits the highest homology and is therefore better suited for Chinese populations. Given that rabies is virtually 100% fatal once symptoms appear and remains incurable, there is an urgent need for vaccines that are both safe and highly effective, with robust quality assurance. To ensure the utmost safety during transportation and storage, they recommended affixing Vaccine Vial Monitor (VVM) labels to rabies vaccines, thereby safeguarding patients’ lives. Attendees reported gaining substantial knowledge and pledged to apply these insights in their daily work, striving to enhance treatment outcomes and protect public health.

Zhuoyi Biotechnology showcased its next-generation human‑derived rabies vaccine—essential for outpatient settings—at the conference. Throughout the event, Zhuoyi’s booth was bustling with attendees, drawing a steady stream of experts and professionals who stopped by to engage in discussions. In addition to presenting detailed information about the Zhuoyi rabies vaccine, the company set up an interactive experience zone, where participants enthusiastically took part in on‑site activities and collected attractive gifts. Many attending experts and delegates remarked that this close‑up exchange deepened their understanding of the vaccine’s technological strengths, particularly its innovative features such as the human‑derived viral strain, its antibiotic‑free formulation, and the VVM‑compliant label, all of which left a lasting impression.

As China’s economy grows and living standards improve, the number of households—both in urban and rural areas—that keep pets continues to rise, leading to increasingly frequent animal‑related injuries. This trend places tremendous pressure on emergency surgery clinics specializing in dog‑bite cases across the country, posing significant technical challenges. Rabies, a deadly zoonotic disease, is almost invariably fatal once symptoms appear; animal bites and scratches—particularly from dogs and cats—are its primary mode of transmission. Strengthening prevention and standardizing management of animal‑induced injuries are therefore critical to rabies control. Holding this conference on World Rabies Day carries special significance, aiming to raise public awareness and underscore the importance of preventing and managing animal‑related injuries. With concerted efforts from all stakeholders, Shandong Province is poised to achieve even more substantial progress in this area, contributing to the elimination of the rabies threat and safeguarding public health. Zhuoyi Biotechnology remains committed to honoring health through expertise and giving back to society through value, dedicated to providing safe and effective rabies vaccines. By bolstering the defenses against rabies, we strive to offer professional support and help chart a new course for animal‑injury prevention and control throughout the Qilu region.

*The above content is partially reprinted from the official WeChat account of Jinan Municipal Fifth Hospital.