30

Total Reported Outbreaks

16

Total Affected
Countries

11

Total Affected
Species

Rabies

Asian and Africa are the main regions affected by rabies in dogs, whilst wildlife may be affected in many parts of the world. Find out where the latest reported outbreaks are with this map.

KEY FACTS

Disease Classification

Rabies is caused by the rabies virus, which is a type of lyssavirus. This Genus also contains a range of viruses closely related to the rabies virus, for example the European bat lyssavirus (EBLV) 1.

Transmission

The rabies virus is transmitted in saliva, and almost 100% of deaths in humans are due to transmission from dogs when people are bitten. There are also wildlife cycles of rabies, such as those in North America sustained by raccoons, skunks and foxes, and those in South America involving vampire bats.

Vaccine

Rabies is preventable and the vaccination of dogs using a high quality vaccine is central to eliminating canine-mediated human deaths from rabies. Not only does this significantly improve human health, it is also financially beneficial to the country because fewer doses of the costly post bite preventative treatment (Post Exposure Prophylaxis, PEP) are required for people exposed to rabies.

Clinical Signs

Treatment

Prevention is the key to controlling and eliminating rabies, with dog vaccination the main tool. People that are bitten by a dog should take appropriate action to wash and clean the wound and seek medical attention.

Management

The disease is 100% preventable. In recent decades countries across Latin America and the Caribbean have made strides towards rabies elimination, and in November 2019, Mexico proved that human canine-mediated deaths can be eliminated when it became the first country in the world to obtain WHO validation for no human rabies deaths. Mexico achieved this by having a national rabies strategy based on mass dog vaccination, raising public awareness, and post-exposure prophylaxis. The cooperation of human and animal health sectors is important in achieving rabies elimination, and rabies is a good example of how a One Health approach can be very effective.

FOCUS ON…

Focus On… Building a Rabies Free Future for Eritrea

Eritrea is one of the countries in Africa struggling with rabies. To help eliminate this devastating disease, Johann Kotzé, MSD Animal Health, assists WOAH in developing control strategy to support…

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Latest Scientific Papers

Rabies in a postpandemic world: resilient reservoirs, redoubtable riposte, recurrent roadblocks, and resolute recidivism Rupprecht, C.E., Mshelbwala, P.P., Reeves, R.G., Kuzmin, I.V. 2023 Animal Diseases, 3(1), art. no. 15.

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Comparison of vaccination schedules for foot-and-mouth disease among cattle and sheep in Mongolia Ulziibat, G., Raizman, E., Lkhagvasuren, A., (…), Ludi, A.B., Lyons, N.A. 2023 Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, art. no. 990043.

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Surveillance of avian influenza viruses from 2014 to 2018 in South Korea Españo, E., Shim, S.-M., Song, E.-J., (…), Kim, S.-H., Kim, J.-K. 2023 Scientific Reports, 13(1), art. no. 8410.

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Risk factors associated with rabies incidence in rabies endemic areas in West Kalimantan Saepudin, M., Pranaka, R.N., Umboh, H.H., Wardoyo, S. 2022 GERMS, 12(4), pp. 472-477.

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Antibody prevalence to avian influenza virus subtypes H5, H7 and H9 in falcons, captive and wild birds, United Arab Emirates, 2003–2006 Jöstl, N., Weidinger, P., Lussy, H., (…), Li, X., Nowotny, N. 2023 Veterinary Medicine and Science.

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Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on dog ownership and rabies vaccination in Metropolitan Lima Corrales, M.-G., León, D., Falcón, N. 2023 Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru, 34(2), art. no. e25103.

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