Animal Rabies in Kazakhstan: Stable Endemicity, Surveillance Pitfalls, and Priority Actions

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Wildlife Disease Ecology

Background:

• Rabies is endemic in Kazakhstan, with wild canids like foxes and dogs acting as primary reservoirs.
• Distinct sylvatic and urban rabies cycles are maintained within the country.
• Existing knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) data and national regulations inform control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline three high-return priorities for rabies control in Kazakhstan.
• To integrate epidemiological patterns, regulatory frameworks, and population KAP into actionable strategies.
• To align national rabies control efforts with international standards and roadmaps.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of epidemiological patterns and national regulatory framework (Order No. 7-1/587).
• Evaluation of population knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding rabies.
• Leveraging existing national assets like risk maps and laboratory capacities (dFAT, RT-PCR, sequencing).

Main Results:

• Identified three key priorities: (a) One Health real-time surveillance with GIS, (b) biannual oral rabies vaccination (ORV) for foxes with quality assurance, and (c) urban dog rabies control to boost vaccination and reduce post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) delays.
• Proposed strategies align with WOAH Terrestrial Code and "Zero by 30" roadmap.
• Kazakhstan's predictable rabies patterns allow for targeted, district-level interventions and measurable risk reduction.

Conclusions:

• Urgent implementation of the three identified priorities is necessary for effective rabies control in Kazakhstan.
• Standardized reporting and rigorous quality assurance programs are crucial for success.
• A One Health approach, combined with targeted vaccination and surveillance, can significantly reduce rabies risk.