Rabies: An Endemic Problem Still in Parts of the World

Human rabies is very rare in the United States thanks to rabies control programs and vaccination. Since 1990, there have only been 55 documented cases. In contrast, more than 55,000 people die from rabies every year around the world, with Africa and India most affected. Currently, there are several campaigns to increase awareness, and provide help through rabies vaccination control programs.

Erase Rabies Campaign

September 28^th is World Rabies Day (WRD). The theme for 2018 is Rabies: Share the message. Save a life. The purpose of this message is to affect change on every level from government policy to bite prevention education in schools to community-level messages about vaccinating dogs and properly treating bite wounds.

On World Rabies Day, Merck Animal Health is hosting a global Twitter chat with those involved in their Erase Rabies Campaign. The Erase Rabies Campaign is an effort to globally eradicate rabies “one vaccination at a time.” Merck Animal Health supplies Nobivac^® rabies vaccines to programs like Rabies Free Africa, Mission Rabies and Afya Serengeti. Every time you purchase Nobivac vaccines, you are supporting these important programs. In addition, some veterinarians and staff are making a larger commitment by volunteering through Mission Rabies and other organizations.  

Since 2013, the Covetrus Cares Foundation has been working to eliminate rabies-related deaths globally. Mission Rabies is an initiative with teams of vets, nurses, volunteers and thousands of pounds of supplies working to eliminate rabies in Malawi, a country largely burdened by the disease, through vaccinations and treatment. Covetrus supports the cause by donating resources like syringes, needles, suture material, ivermectin and other vital veterinary supplies.

What else can you do?

As veterinarians, you are the frontline of rabies prevention for your patients and their owners. Global Alliance for Rabies Control provides free, online courses “developed to improve the skills and knowledge of people working in rabies awareness and prevention.” The program, GARC Education Platform (GEP), offers a variety of certificates in rabies-related educational opportunities, including animal handling and vaccination, rabies educator and community coordination.

The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that cats in the United States are less likely to receive the rabies vaccination than dogs. Many cat owners believe that the vaccination is unnecessary for indoor cats, and as a result, animal rabies rates in the U.S., while low, are much higher for cats. As veterinarians, you have the opportunity to educate clients about the dangers to pets and themselves of not vaccinating for rabies.

Setting an example for rabies education and prevention

In early 2018, an all-female veterinary association at the University of Philippines (UP) decided to focus on rabies education during their annual veterinary medicine field-training program titled Service through Extension and Training (SET). The program’s purpose is to allow veterinary students to apply coursework to authentic, real-world experiences. Dr. Dianne Licuan, a representative for GARC, used the event to lecture on conducting a mass vaccination campaign for dogs and teaching proper handling and vaccination techniques.

The results of this program were extraordinary. Students coordinated with local veterinary clinics to conduct rabies vaccinations in Baguio City, Philippines at five separate location points. The event was so successful that it also lead to a house-to-house campaign in which students promoted the rabies vaccine for domestic animals in the surrounding areas. (any stats on rabies incidence reduction with this program?) They proved that disease education and vaccination are the best line of defense in rabies prevention.

Register your event to support the global rabies community with the Rabies Alliance here.

Access the World Health Organization’s most recent position paper on rabies vaccines here.

Read more about Mission Rabies and how the charity is working to prevent needless deaths from this devastating disease.

Contact Covetrus for more information at 855.724.3461 or online.

Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/rabies.html

https://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day

https://rabiesalliance.org/capacity-building/gep

https://rabiesalliance.org/news/vet-training-program-links-rabies-knowledge-hands-vaccination-practices

http://www.aaha.org/blog/NewStat/post/2018/05/01/582788/Erasing-rabies-one-vaccination-at-a-time.aspx

https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/090915w.aspx 

http://www.missionrabies.com/