Rabies in Tanzania explained
Rabies takes an economic toll on Tanzania; costs due to rabies include medical expenses, control of infected dogs, and safety inspections in local communities. Rabies medication is also very expensive for the average Tanzanian.[1]
Context
See main article: Rabies. Rabies is a fatal, preventable zoonosis that infects the central nervous system of mammals, caused by the lyssavirus.[2] It is endemic in low income countries, causing an estimated 55,000 human deaths each year with over 98% of these deaths following bites from rabid dogs.[3]
Socio-economic effects
Cleaveland et al. (2002) estimated Tanzanian human rabies mortality at 1499 deaths per year, including unreported cases. There were only 193 reported cases, or 12% of the true number of people dying of rabies annually.[4]
Prevention schemes
There have been some efforts to control rabies through vaccination of the disease sources, which include dogs and other wildlife.[5] A study done in two districts of Ngorongoro and Serengeti studied the spread pattern of rabies where wildlife plays a role in disease transmission. Findings indicated that an annual dog vaccination campaign, achieving the WHO-recommended target of 70% coverage, would have a high chance of controlling rabies in Ngorongoro and Serengeti.
Further reading
- Kiffner . Christian . Latzer . Michelle . Vise . Ruby . Benson . Hayley . Hammon . Elizabeth . Kioko . John . Comparative knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding anthrax, brucellosis, and rabies in three districts of northern Tanzania . BMC Public Health . 3 December 2019 . 19 . 1 . 1625 . 10.1186/s12889-019-7900-0 . 31796011 . 6889212 . free .
- Zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030: insights from modelling . Gates Open Research . 11 October 2019 . 3 . 1564 . 10.12688/gatesopenres.13074.1 . free . 7308633 . WHO Rabies Modelling Consortium . 32596645 .
Notes and References
- Knobel . Darryn L. . Cleaveland . Sarah . Coleman . Paul G. . Fèvre . Eric M. . Meltzer . Martin I. . Miranda . M. Elizabeth G. . Shaw . Alexandra . Zinsstag . Jakob . Meslin . François-Xavier . Re-evaluating the burden of rabies in Africa and Asia. . Bulletin of the World Health Organization . 2005 . 83 . 5 . 360–368 . 2626230 . 15976877 .
- Coleman . Paul G. . Fèvre . Eric M. . Cleaveland . Sarah . Estimating the Public Health Impact of Rabies . Emerging Infectious Diseases . 2004 . 10 . 1 . 140–142 . 10.3201/eid1001.020744 . 15078611 . 3322764 .
- Sambo . Maganga . Cleaveland . Sarah . Ferguson . Heather . Lembo . Tiziana . Simon . Cleophas . Urassa . Honorati . Hampson . Katie . The Burden of Rabies in Tanzania and Its Impact on Local Communities . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases . 7 November 2013 . 7 . 11 . e2510 . 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002510 . 24244767 . 3820724 . free .
- Cleaveland . Sarah . Fèvre . Eric M. . Kaare . Magai . Coleman . Paul G. . Estimating human rabies mortality in the United Republic of Tanzania from dog bite injuries. . Bulletin of the World Health Organization . 2002 . 80 . 4 . 304–310 . 2567765 . 12075367 .
- Fitzpatrick . Meagan C. . Hampson . Katie . Cleaveland . Sarah . Meyers . Lauren Ancel . Townsend . Jeffrey P. . Galvani . Alison P. . Reithinger . Richard . Potential for Rabies Control through Dog Vaccination in Wildlife-Abundant Communities of Tanzania . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases . 21 August 2012 . 6 . 8 . e1796 . 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001796 . 22928056 . 3424251 . free .