Rabies Virus in Sierra Leone: Challenges and Recommended Solutions for Elimination by 2030 (original) (raw)
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EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CONTROL STRATEGIES OF DOG-MEDIATED HUMAN RABIES IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA
Review Articles, 2018
Background: Rabies is a neglected zoonotic viral disease affecting all terrestrial mammals globally. It is caused by lyssa-viruses spreading to human through bites by infected animals mostly dogs. The disease is 100% preventable through pre and post exposure prophylaxis in human. Objective: To review and describe the epidemiology, control and elimination strategies of dog-mediated human rabies in Southern and Eastern Africa. Method: Systematic literature review was used to collect and analyze rabies data obtained from Southern and Eastern Africa Rabies Group, Pan-African Rabies Control Network, World Organization for Animal Health) and World Health Organization databases. Results: Rabies is endemic, under reported and inconsistently reported in Southern and Eastern Africa. However, rabies control in region has been hampered by factors related to human, socioeconomic, animal, epidemiological, vaccines, limited financial resource, technical, and government and policy factors. Various rabies control strategies have been implanted in different countries of the region to reduce impacts of rabies in human and in animals. Conclusion: Strategies includes prevention of rabies in dogs and human, advocacy, communication and social mobilization, conducting and promoting operational research, enhance partnerships and multi-sectoral collaboration and resource mobilization for rabies control.
Control of canine rabies in developing countries: key features and animal welfare implications
Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics), 2014
Over 90% of human deaths from rabies worldwide are caused by dog bites. Mass vaccination, along with the effective control of dog populations, has been used successfully in industrialised countries to control this disease. A lower success rate in developing countries is due to a number of factors, including vaccination campaigns that do not cover a sufficient number of animals or reach all communities, and a wide biodiversity that increases the number of reservoirs of the rabies virus. Educational programmes are needed, which focus on the commitment involved when acquiring a domestic animal, stating clearly what is required to provide it with a good quality of life. New technologies developed in the industrialised world will not always be successful in less developed countries. Approaches must be adapted to the particular conditions in each country, taking cultural and socio-economic issues into account. Authorities must promote research on dog population dynamics, the development o...
First Reported Case of Dog Associated Cattle Rabies in Koinadugu District, Northern Sierra Leone
African Journal of Biomedical Research, 2017
Cattle rabies is uncommon and often associated with vampire bats, dog and foxes however there is paucity of information on this condition in other West African countries other than Nigeria. This communication presents a case of dog associated cattle rabies in Koinadugu district, Sierra Leone. Case history, antirabies vaccination and dog management assessment in adjoining communities, human exposure, clinical presentations and mortality in affected cattle were evaluated using standard techniques. Laboratory screening of brain samples collected was by Real time polymerase chain reaction technique. Stray dog bitten affected cattle showed anorexia, barking, hyper excitation, hydrophobia, foaming and paralysis with resultant category 1 and 11 human exposure, 7.6% mortality and 100% case fatality rate. Laboratory examination of cattle brain specimens tested positive for Rabies virus. This report described the first documented case of dog associated cattle rabies in Sierra Leone. This comm...
Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 2015
Background: Domestic dogs are the main targets for rabies control as they are the principal reservoir for transmission of the rabies virus to humans and other domestic animals. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that contribute to the rabies virus infecting the human population in a rural community of Eastern Tanzania. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, field visits were conducted to gather information on villagers' knowledge on and practices associated with canine rabies control and dog vaccination campaigns. Results: A total of 248 individuals were interviewed in the Kilosa district, Tanzania. Almost two-thirds (61.3 %) had a primary school education. The majority (91.1 %) of the respondents were aware that rabies is acquired through dog bites and 66.9 % knew about the clinical signs of rabies in an animal. Very few (17.7 %), however, were aware of the clinical signs of rabies in humans. Only 20.4 % of the respondents knew how rabies is controlled in dogs and 71 % were not aware of dog vaccination campaigns. The average number of dogs kept per household was 4 ± 3.3; 70.0 % of the respondents had one to five dogs, 28.3 % had six to dog dogs, and 1.6 % had 16-20 dogs. The dogs were primarily used to guard livestock and property, and to hunt. About 59.7 % of the respondents indicated that rabies was a public health problem. Low vaccination coverage was observed in the study area, with previous mass vaccination campaigns covering only 24.4 % of the dog population. Dogs appeared to have limited value in the studied community. Furthermore, there were no proper waste disposal facilities and oftentimes wild canids and felids visited the villages to scavenge on kitchen leftovers. Conclusion: Although communities in the Kilosa district had knowledge on rabies in dogs, they were not aware of the public health implication of the disease, which thus led a poor response during mass dog vaccination campaigns. Establishment of a well-coordinated rabies control program, strategic public health awareness campaigns, and active and passive surveillance systems for humans and domestic and wild animals should be considered as strategies to control and eradicate rabies.
Dog rabies control in West and Central Africa: A review
Acta Tropica, 2020
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Veterinary World, 2024
Background and Aim: Canine rabies is an endemic form of zoonosis and represents a major public health threat in Guinea, similar to other African countries. However, few investigations on the epidemiology of rabies in animals and humans have been conducted, and evidence-based data required to inform health policies remain inadequate. This study was conducted to update our knowledge of human dog-mediated rabies epidemiology and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) accessibility-related factors in Guinea. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study, conducted from January 2018 to December 2020, collected data on animal bite cases, veterinary observations, rabies diagnoses through fluorescent antibody test, and PEP delivery from three veterinary and medical entities. Statistical analysis utilized Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test to evaluate relationships between variables. Results: An average of 775 bites was recorded annually, and dogs were responsible for 98% of bites. However, only 64% of the biting dogs were under veterinary observation as required for integrated bite case management. Regarding the geographical distribution of bite cases, the entire country was affected, with the highest number of bites recorded in the prefectures of Nzérékoré and the special zone of Conakry. In addition, the laboratory diagnosis of brain samples from biting dogs indicated that 72% of the samples were rabies-positive. However, regarding prevention, only 58% of the bitten individuals received full PEP. Conclusion: Improving disease surveillance and PEP provision for dog-transmitted rabies is crucial to preventing human cases and deaths. Increasing community awareness is essential for enhancing dog vaccination and PEP utilization. A national action plan integrating stakeholders for controlling canine rabies should be developed for effective One Health collaboration. Keywords: animal bite management, cats, cattle, dogs, fluorescent antibody test, Guinea, humans, monkeys, rabies.
A hundred years of rabies in Kenya and the strategy for eliminating dog-mediated rabies by 2030
AAS Open Research, 2018
Background: Rabies causes an estimated 59,000 human deaths annually. In Kenya, rabies was first reported in a dog in 1912, with the first human case reported in 1928. Here we examine retrospective rabies data in Kenya for the period 1912 – 2017 and describe the spatial and temporal patterns of rabies occurrence in the country. Additionally, we detail Kenya’s strategy for the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Methods: Data on submitted samples and confirmed cases in humans, domestic animals and wildlife were obtained from Kenya’s Directorate of Veterinary Services. These data were associated with the geographical regions where the samples originated, and temporal and spatial trends examined. Results: Between 1912 and the mid 1970’s, rabies spread across Kenya gradually, with fewer than 50 cases reported per year and less than half of the 47 counties affected. Following an outbreak in the mid 1970’s, rabies spread rapidly to more than 85% of counties, with a 4 fold inc...
Rabies Prevalence, Prevention and Clinical Features in Case of Developing Countries: Article Review
2016
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) of mammals and has an extremely high case fatality rate. It is widely distributed across the world, with only a few countries (mainly islands and peninsulas) that are free of the disease. It is a neglected disease of poor and vulnerable communities. Underreporting and not recording of cases made it unable to control.Africa and especially South East Asia and are the most common regions to be highly victims of dog bite rabies each year. Mostly young aged and rurals were commonly affected. All mammals are vulnerable to rabies, but only a limited number of species also act as reservoir hosts. They include members of the families Canidae (dogs, jackals, coyotes, wolves, foxes and raccoon dogs), Mustelidae (e.g., skunks), Viverridae (e.g., mongooses), and Procyonidae (raccoons), and the order Chiroptera (bats). Once clinical signs develop, there are very few survivors. Vaccines can protect pets, as well as people expo...
Rabies control in Liberia: Joint efforts towards zero by 30
Acta Tropica, 2021
Despite declaration as a national priority disease, dog rabies remains endemic in Liberia, with surveillance systems and disease control activities still developing. The objective of these initial efforts was to establish animal rabies diagnostics, foster collaboration between all rabies control stakeholders, and develop a short-term action plan with estimated costs for rabies control and elimination in Liberia. Four rabies diagnostic tests, the direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test, the direct immunohistochemical test (dRIT), the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and the rapid immunochromatographic diagnostic test (RIDT), were implemented at the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) in Monrovia between July 2017 and February 2018. Seven samples (n=7) out of eight suspected animals were confirmed positive for rabies lyssavirus, and molecular analyses revealed that all isolates belonged to the Africa 2 lineage, subgroup H. During a comprehensive incountry One Health rabies stakeholder meeting in 2018, a practical workplan, a short-term action plan and an