Rabies in Asia: the classical zoonosis

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Public Health
• Zoonotic Disease Epidemiology
• One Health Initiative

Background:

• Rabies poses a significant and ongoing threat to human populations across Asia.
• Domestic dogs are the principal reservoir and transmission vector for rabies, with wildlife playing a minimal role.
• No region in Asia has been declared rabies-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in over 20 years, and canine rabies has recently spread to new areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the persistent threat of canine rabies in Asia.
• To identify the primary barriers to rabies control in the region.
• To emphasize the necessity of a coordinated One Health approach for effective disease management.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing epidemiological data on rabies in Asia.
• Analysis of the roles of domestic dogs and wildlife in rabies transmission.
• Assessment of inter-sectoral collaboration challenges in public health and veterinary services.

Main Results:

• Canine rabies remains endemic in Asia, with no WHO-recognized rabies-free zones.
• Evidence indicates the spread of canine rabies to new regions in the last decade.
• Key obstacles to rabies control include a lack of official motivation and inadequate cooperation between public health and agricultural sectors.

Conclusions:

• Effective control of canine rabies is achievable with current knowledge and technology.
• Overcoming motivational and inter-agency coordination barriers is crucial for managing this zoonotic disease.
• Rabies serves as a model for the One Health approach, necessitating integrated human, animal, and governmental collaboration.