A Regional Analysis of the Progress of Current Dog-Mediated Rabies Control and Prevention

This study aimed to assess the current progress of dog-mediated rabies control and the level of political commitment among 88 rabies-endemic countries and to provide further recommendations for the elimination of dog-mediated rabies by 2030. A correlational study was conducted using data and relevant regulations from the websites of international organizations and NGOs. In general, rabies was yet to be considered a priority disease and only one out of five countries and territories has prepared a national strategic plan for rabies control and prevention. Likewise, scores of dog-mediated rabies control indicators such as dog vaccination rate and the number of post-exposure prophylaxis per 1000 people remained minimal. There were also regional differences in preparation for dog-mediated rabies control and progress towards elimination. In particular, more efforts are needed for Pan-African Rabies Control Network (PARACON) member countries. In order to meet the goal of global dog-mediated zero rabies by 2030, both dog-mediated rabies control activities such as dog vaccination and strong political commitment should be strengthened and promoted in all rabies-endemic regions of the world.

[1]  Takahiko Yoshida,et al.  Public health implication towards rabies elimination in Sri Lanka: A systematic review. , 2021, Acta tropica.

[2]  E. Fèvre,et al.  Cross-Sectoral Zoonotic Disease Surveillance in Western Kenya: Identifying Drivers and Barriers Within a Resource Constrained Setting , 2021, Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

[3]  Sherif Abdulbari Ali,et al.  Trends and clinico-epidemiological features of human rabies cases in Bangladesh 2006–2018 , 2020, Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

[4]  C. Stephen,et al.  Surveillance Opportunities and the Need for Intersectoral Collaboration on Rabies in Sri Lanka , 2019, Journal of veterinary medicine.

[5]  L. Taylor,et al.  Impact of Integrating Rabies Education Into the Curriculum of Public Elementary Schools in Ilocos Norte, Philippines on Rabies Knowledge, and Animal Bite Incidence , 2019, Front. Public Health.

[6]  T. T. Nguyen,et al.  Progress towards rabies control and elimination in Vietnam. , 2019, Revue scientifique et technique.

[7]  L. Nel,et al.  Formation of the Asian Rabies Control Network (ARACON): A common approach towards a global good , 2018, Antiviral research.

[8]  M. Bouslikhane,et al.  A Century Spent Combating Rabies in Morocco (1911–2015): How Much Longer? , 2017, Front. Vet. Sci..

[9]  M. Shi,et al.  Successful strategies implemented towards the elimination of canine rabies in the Western Hemisphere , 2017, Antiviral research.

[10]  D. Schwebel,et al.  Systematic Review: Interventions to Educate Children About Dog Safety and Prevent Pediatric Dog-Bite Injuries A Meta-Analytic Review , 2016, Journal of pediatric psychology.

[11]  B. Abela-Ridder,et al.  Sri Lanka takes action towards a target of zero rabies death by 2020 , 2016, WHO South-East Asia journal of public health.

[12]  K. de Balogh,et al.  The Pan-African Rabies Control Network (PARACON): A unified approach to eliminating canine rabies in Africa. , 2015, Antiviral research.

[13]  L. Knopf,et al.  Surveillance of Human Rabies by National Authorities – A Global Survey , 2015, Zoonoses and public health.

[14]  A. Arai,et al.  Outcomes of a school-based intervention on rabies prevention among school children in rural Sri Lanka. , 2015, International health.

[15]  J. Dushoff,et al.  Estimating the Global Burden of Endemic Canine Rabies , 2015, PLoS neglected tropical diseases.

[16]  N. Johnson,et al.  Current status of rabies and prospects for elimination , 2014, The Lancet.

[17]  Maria Cristina Schneider,et al.  Progress towards eliminating canine rabies: policies and perspectives from Latin America and the Caribbean , 2013, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

[18]  D. Horton,et al.  Control and prevention of canine rabies: the need for building laboratory-based surveillance capacity. , 2013, Antiviral research.

[19]  H. VonVille,et al.  Canine rabies vaccination and domestic dog population characteristics in the developing world: a systematic review. , 2012, Vaccine.

[20]  T. Gil.  Education of Children and Adolescents on the Prevention of Dog Bite Injuries , 2011 .

[21]  R. Ditangco,et al.  A pilot study on the usefulness of information and education campaign materials in enhancing the knowledge, attitude and practice on rabies in rural Sri Lanka. , 2009, Journal of infection in developing countries.

[22]  M. Meltzer,et al.  Re-evaluating the burden of rabies in Africa and Asia. , 2005, Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

[23]  S. Yamashita,et al.  Clinical features of familial hypercholesterolemia in Japan in a database from 1996-1998 by the research committee of the ministry of health, labour and welfare of Japan. , 2004, Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

[24]  S. Cleaveland,et al.  A dog rabies vaccination campaign in rural Africa: impact on the incidence of dog rabies and human dog-bite injuries. , 2003, Vaccine.

[25]  C. Dye,et al.  Immunization coverage required to prevent outbreaks of dog rabies. , 1996, Vaccine.