16 March 2009

Research suggests elimination of rabies is a realistic goal

Vaccination of the world´s domestic dog population could lead to the elimination of rabies, according to new research carried out at the University of Sheffield.

Each year more than 55,000 people die of rabies, with about 95% of human deaths occurring in Asia and Africa.

Human rabies deaths are extremely rare in Western Europe and North America, where mass vaccination has successfully eliminated the disease from domestic dog populations.

Up until now, it was felt that the same approach in Africa and Asia may not be as effective.

However research led by Dr Katie Hampson from the University of Sheffield, discovered that because the basic reproductive number for rabies is very low, there is a strong feasibility that widespread canine rabies can be successfully controlled by sustained vaccination campaigns in developing countries, even near wildlife areas with large carnivore populations.

Dr Katie Hampson, from the University´s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, commented: "Rabies is very dangerous to humans, so the idea that with sufficient effort this disease could be successfully eliminated globally is very exciting. Regular pulse vaccinations will be needed to maintain population-level immunity between campaigns, but the eradication of rabies is a realistic prospect."

The findings are due to be published in the journal PLoS Biology on the 10 March 2009.