(Press-News.org) A global study on canine rabies, published today (16 April 2015), has found that 160 people die every single day from the disease. The report is the first study to consider the impact in terms of deaths and the economic costs of rabies across all countries. Even though the disease is preventable, the study says that around 59,000 people die every year of rabies transmitted by dogs.
The multi-author study, by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control's Partners for Rabies Prevention Group, also shows that annual economic losses because of the disease are around 8.6 billion US dollars, mostly due to premature deaths, but also because of spending on human vaccines, lost income for victims of animal bites and other costs.
"This ground-breaking study is an essential step towards improved control and eventual elimination of rabies," says Professor Louis Nel, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC). "An understanding of the actual burden helps us determine and advocate for the resources needed to tackle this fatal disease."
Led by Dr Katie Hampson of the University of Glasgow, the study is the first to estimate the impact of canine rabies and the extent of control efforts in every country in the world.
Dr Hampson explains, "The breadth of data used in this study, from surveillance reports to epidemiological study data to global vaccine sales figures, is far greater than ever analysed before, allowing this more detailed output."
The study finds that overwhelmingly the greatest risk of canine rabies is in the poorest countries; the death rate (deaths / 100,000 people) is highest in countries in sub-Saharan Africa, while India has the highest number of fatalities, with over 20,000 human deaths annually. The proportion of dogs vaccinated is far below that necessary to control the disease across almost all countries of Africa and Asia.
Rabies is close to 100% fatal, but it is also almost 100% preventable, and the best, most cost-effective way of preventing canine rabies is by vaccinating dogs. This needs to be supplemented by improving access to human vaccines.
According to the report, this One Health approach to eliminating rabies deaths, with collaboration between the human and animal health sectors, can save many lives and significantly reduce the burden on vulnerable economies. Indeed, the countries that have invested most in dog vaccination are the ones where human deaths from the disease have been virtually eliminated.
The study also emphasises that reporting systems are fundamental to rabies elimination, to monitor and assess the success of prevention efforts.
"No one should die of rabies and GARC and its partners will continue to work together using a One Health approach towards global rabies elimination," concludes Professor Nel.
INFORMATION:
Notes to editors:
The study has been published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, and can be accessed at http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003709 from Thursday 16th April at 8PM CET.
Global experts available for interview:
Professor Louis Nel, Global Alliance for Rabies Control;
Dr Louise Taylor, Global Alliance for Rabies Control (Partners for Rabies Prevention Group coordinator);
Dr Katie Hampson, University of Glasgow
Please contact:
pr@rabiesalliance.org
0044 7914 699 155
Multimedia:
A short video about rabies and how GARC's support is making a difference in the Philippines can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEZpM41MvdU
Photos are available at:
http://rabiesalliance.org/media/photo-gallery/burden-pics-8/
http://rabiesalliance.org/media/photo-gallery/burden-pics-6/
http://rabiesalliance.org/media/photo-gallery/burden-pics-4/
Further resources available at https://www.facebook.com/GlobalAllianceforRabiesControl and @RabiesAlliance
About the Global Alliance for Rabies Control
The Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) is a leading non-profit organisation that works with governments, veterinary, public health and educational experts, and communities to eliminate rabies in areas hardest hit by the disease. GARC's mission is to eliminate human deaths from rabies and relieve the burden of rabies in animal populations, especially dogs. For more information about rabies and GARC's work, visit http://rabiesalliance.org.
About GARC's Partners for Rabies Prevention
GARC's Partners for Rabies Prevention is an informal group that includes all the major international agencies involved in rabies control, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the WHO rabies collaborating centres, research scientists, representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the UBS Optimus Foundation and representatives from industry. GARC is the convener of the Partners for Rabies Prevention group.
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