Rabies in the Americas: 1998-2014

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Zoonotic Disease Control

Background:

• Rabies remains a significant public health concern globally, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
• Regional cooperation and national strategies have been crucial in controlling rabies transmission in the LAC region over the past three decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze longitudinal data on rabies control efforts in 21 LAC countries from 1998-2014.
• To assess the impact of national plans, mass dog vaccination, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and surveillance on rabies incidence.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from biannual regional meetings for rabies directors and the Regional Epidemiologic Surveillance System for Rabies (SIRVERA).
• Longitudinal analysis of dog vaccination rates, human and dog rabies incidence, and reported animal exposures.
• Comparison of rabies control metrics across low, middle, and high-income countries.

Main Results:

• Significant decrease in dog and human rabies incidence attributed to sustained vaccination and surveillance efforts.
• Over 50 million dogs vaccinated annually at peak campaign periods; over 2 million human PEP doses administered yearly.
• Stable incidence of animal exposures (123-191 per 100,000 people); disparities noted between income-level countries.
• Only 37% of countries reported adequate financial resources to meet program objectives.

Conclusions:

• Sustained national and regional efforts, particularly mass dog vaccination, have been effective in reducing rabies in the LAC region.
• Understanding the baseline effort and resource requirements is essential for continued rabies elimination.
• Financial sustainability is critical for maintaining progress and achieving rabies-free status in the region.