Rabies in Tanzania

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
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.

References
  1. 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 (2005). "Re-evaluating the burden of rabies in Africa and Asia". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 83 (5): 360–368. PMC 2626230. PMID 15976877.
  2. Coleman, Paul G.; Fèvre, Eric M.; Cleaveland, Sarah (2004). "Estimating the Public Health Impact of Rabies". Emerging Infectious Diseases. 10 (1): 140–142. doi:10.3201/eid1001.020744. PMC 3322764. PMID 15078611.
  3. Sambo, Maganga; Cleaveland, Sarah; Ferguson, Heather; Lembo, Tiziana; Simon, Cleophas; Urassa, Honorati; Hampson, Katie (7 November 2013). "The Burden of Rabies in Tanzania and Its Impact on Local Communities". PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 7 (11): e2510. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002510. PMC 3820724. PMID 24244767.
  4. Cleaveland, Sarah; Fèvre, Eric M.; Kaare, Magai; Coleman, Paul G. (2002). "Estimating human rabies mortality in the United Republic of Tanzania from dog bite injuries". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 80 (4): 304–310. PMC 2567765. PMID 12075367.
  5. Fitzpatrick, Meagan C.; Hampson, Katie; Cleaveland, Sarah; Meyers, Lauren Ancel; Townsend, Jeffrey P.; Galvani, Alison P.; Reithinger, Richard (21 August 2012). "Potential for Rabies Control through Dog Vaccination in Wildlife-Abundant Communities of Tanzania". PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 6 (8): e1796. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001796. PMC 3424251. PMID 22928056.

Further reading
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