Towards the elimination of rabies in Eurasia.

6. in humans, once clinical symptoms occur, rabies is almost always fatal; it can, however, be prevented in most situations by strict adherence to the WHO guidelines for post-exposure prophylaxis and if the prescribed products for post-exposure treatment of rabies in humans are readily available and accessible to patients as soon as possible. The full cost of a human post-exposure prophylaxis regimen in developing countries is from 20-100 times that of vaccinating one dog in a mass vaccination campaign. Dog rabies control and vaccination therefore remain the most cost-effective means for preventing the occurrence of human rabies;