Strategies for Prevention and Control of Rabies Virus Infection in Developing World Review Article
Main Article Content
Abstract
Rabies is a major public health problem in developing countries with an estimated 59,000 deaths per year. This review article explores advanced strategies for prevention and control of the disease, highlighting human, animal and environmental health under One Health approach. Key strategies include a mass vaccination campaign targeting dogs (the main reservoir of virus) and the use of oral rabies vaccine for wild animals. New discoveries including geographic information systems have increased surveillance and control efforts. Public education and community participation are key to raise awareness and increase participants in vaccination campaigns. This article also focuses on the importance of global cooperation, sustainable solutions, affordability/access to vaccines and incorporating prevention into broader public health initiatives. Key challenges include resource limitations, cultural and social barriers, climate and environmental factors. Addressing these will be useful to achieve rabies elimination.
Article Details
Section

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
1. Gao J, Wang X, Zhao M, Liu E, Duan M, Guan Z. Entry of Challenge Virus Standard (CVS) -11 into N2a cells via a clathrin-mediated, cholesterol-, dynamin-, pH-dependent endocytic pathway. Virology Journal. 2019;16(1):80.
2. Klein A, Eggerbauer E, Potratz M, Zaeck LM, Calvelage S, Finke S. Comparative pathogenesis of different phylogroup I bat lyssaviruses in a standardized mouse model. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2022;16(1):e0009845.
3. Prevention CfDCa. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2020 [Rabies]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html.
4. Wang L, Cao Y, Tang Q, Liang G. Role of the blood-brain barrier in rabies virus infection and protection. Protein & Cell. 2013;4(12):901-3.
5. Hampson K, Coudeville L, Lembo T, Sambo M, Kieffer A, Attlan M. Estimating the Global Burden of Endemic Canine Rabies. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2015;9(4):e0003709.
6. Organization. WH. Human rabies prevention and management. (2018).
7. Tiwari HK, Gogoi-Tiwari J, Robertson ID. Eliminating dog-mediated rabies: challenges and strategies. Animal Diseases. 2021;1(1):19.
8. World Health O, Food, Agriculture Organization of the United N, World Organisation for Animal H. Zero by 30: the global strategic plan to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018 2018.
9. Organization WH. Zero by 30: The global strategic plan to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. 2021.
10. Srinivasan A, Burton EC, Kuehnert MJ, Rupprecht C, Sutker WL, Ksiazek TG. Transmission of rabies virus from an organ donor to four transplant recipients. The New England journal of medicine. 2005;352(11):1103-11.
11. Changalucha J, Hampson K, Jaswant G, Lankester F, Yoder J. Human rabies: prospects for elimination. 2021.
12. WHO. Rabies vaccines. Rabies vaccines: WHO position paper. 2018.
13. Lembo T, Hampson K, Kaare MT, Ernest E, Knobel D, Kazwala RR. The Feasibility of Canine Rabies Elimination in Africa: Dispelling Doubts with Data. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2010;4(2):e626.
14. Rupprecht CE. Rabies in Animals Merck Veterinary Manual: Merck Veterinary Manual; 2023, updated 2023/08.
15. Tizard IR. Types of Vaccines for Animals MSD Veterinary Manual: MSD Veterinary Manual; 2023, updated 2023/10.
16. Dodet B. The fight against rabies in Africa: From recognition to action. Vaccine. 2009;27(37):5027-32.
17. Ahmad A, Inayat F, Ullah N, Rasul S, Bakhtiar S, Shad Z. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals regarding rabies in tertiary care hospitals: A cross-sectional study in Peshawar, Pakistan. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2024;18(6):e0012238.
18. Verma R, Khanna P, Prinja S, Rajput M. Intra-dermal administration of rabies vaccines in developing countries: at an affordable cost. Human vaccines. 2011;7(7):792-4.
19. Subedi S, Adhikari K, Regmi D, Sharma HK, Bolakhe N, Kandel M. Assessment of Community Knowledge and Practices towards Rabies Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal. 2023;3(3):203-14.
20. Hasanov E, Zeynalova S, Geleishvili M, Maes E, Tongren E, Marshall E. Assessing the impact of public education on a preventable zoonotic disease: rabies. Epidemiology and Infection. 2018;146(2):227-35.
21. Wu H, Chen J, Zou L, Zheng L, Zhang W, Meng Z. Community-based interventions to enhance knowledge, protective attitudes and behaviors towards canine rabies: results from a health communication intervention study in Guangxi, China. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2016;16(1):701.
22. Kanda K, Obayashi Y, Jayasinghe A, Gunawardena GS, Delpitiya NY, Priyadarshani NG. Outcomes of a school-based intervention on rabies prevention among school children in rural Sri Lanka. International health. 2015;7(5):348-53.
23. Fahrion AS, Taylor LH, Torres G, Müller T, Dürr S, Knopf L. The Road to Dog Rabies Control and Elimination—What Keeps Us from Moving Faster? 2017;5.
24. Isiko J, Okech S, Nakanwagi B, Majalija S, Owiny D, Khaitsa M. Service-learning and community engagement yields benefits in zoonotic disease control: the case of rabies control in Mbuya II Zone in Kampala, Uganda. Pan African Medical Journal. 2017;27:12448.
25. Taylor LH, Knopf L, the Partners for Rabies P. Surveillance of Human Rabies by National Authorities – A Global Survey. Zoonoses and Public Health. 2015;62(7):543-52.
26. Lapiz SMD, Miranda MEG, Garcia RG, Daguro LI, Paman MD, Madrinan FP. Implementation of an Intersectoral Program to Eliminate Human and Canine Rabies: The Bohol Rabies Prevention and Elimination Project. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2012;6(12):e1891.
27. Warrell MJ. Current rabies vaccines and prophylaxis schedules: Preventing rabies before and after exposure. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2012;10(1):1-15.
28. Kessels JA, Recuenco S, Navarro-Vela AM, Deray R, Vigilato M, Ertl H. Pre-exposure rabies prophylaxis: a systematic review. Bull World Health Organ. 2017;95(3):210-9c.
29. Wambura G, Mwatondo A, Muturi M, Nasimiyu C, Wentworth D, Hampson K. Rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin supply and logistics: Challenges and opportunities for rabies elimination in Kenya. Vaccine. 2019;37:A28-A34.
30. Valenzuela LM, Jayme SI, Amparo ACB, Taylor LH, Dela Cruz MPZ, Licuan DA. The Ilocos Norte Communities against Rabies Exposure Elimination Project in the Philippines: Epidemiological and Economic Aspects. 2017;4.
31. Sambo M, Lembo T, Cleaveland S, Ferguson HM, Sikana L, Simon C, et al. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) about Rabies Prevention and Control: A Community Survey in Tanzania. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2014;8(12):e3310.
32. Organization PAH. Paho disease elimination initiative: a policy for an integrated sustainable approach to communicable diseases in the Americas. Washington, DC, USA,. 2019.
33. Léchenne M, Traore A, Hattendorf J, Kallo V, Oussiguere A, Tetchi M. Increasing rabies data availability: The example of a One Health research project in Chad, Côte d'Ivoire and Mali. Acta tropica. 2021;215:105808.
34. Gibbs EPJ. The evolution of One Health: a decade of progress and challenges for the future. 2014;174(4):85-91.
35. Cleaveland S, Sharp J, Abela-Ridder B, Allan KJ, Buza J, Crump JA. One Health contributions towards more effective and equitable approaches to health in low- and middle-income countries. 2017;372(1725):20160168.
36. Destoumieux-Garzón D, Mavingui P, Boetsch G, Boissier J, Darriet F, Duboz P. The One Health Concept: 10 Years Old and a Long Road Ahead. 2018;5.
37. Schneider MC, Romijn PC, Uieda W, Tamayo H, da Silva DF, Belotto A. Rabies transmitted by vampire bats to humans: an emerging zoonotic disease in Latin America? Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2009;25(3):260-9.
38. Mani RS, Madhusudana SN. Laboratory Diagnosis of Human Rabies: Recent Advances. The Scientific World Journal. 2013;2013(1):569712.
39. Dürr S, Naïssengar S, Mindekem R, Diguimbye C, Niezgoda M, Kuzmin I. Rabies Diagnosis for Developing Countries. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2008;2(3):e206.
40. Dean DJ, Abelseth MK. Laboratory techniques in rabies: the fluorescent antibody test. Monograph series World Health Organization. 1973;(23):73-84.
41. Lembo T, Niezgoda, M., Velasco-Villa, A., Cleaveland, S., Ernest, E., & Rupprecht, C. E. Evaluation of a Direct, Rapid Immunohistochemical Test for Rabies Diagnosis. Emerging Infectious Diseases,. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2006.
42. Hayman DTS, Banyard AC, Wakeley PR, Harkess G, Marston D, Wood JLN, et al. A universal real-time assay for the detection of Lyssaviruses. Journal of Virological Methods. 2011;177(1):87-93.
43. Dacheux L, Reynes J-M, Buchy P, Sivuth O, Diop BM, Rousset D. A Reliable Diagnosis of Human Rabies Based on Analysis of Skin Biopsy Specimens. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2008;47(11):1410-7.
44. Moh'd AZ, Coetzer A, Malan AJ, Scott TP, Ramadhan RJ, Wright N. Investigating the Impact That Diagnostic Screening with Lateral Flow Devices Had on the Rabies Surveillance Program in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Microorganisms. 2024;12(7).
45. Makovska I. Geoinformation analysis of rabies spread in Vinnytsya region. Naukovij Vìsnik Veterinarnoï Medicini, 2. Naukovij Vìsnik Veterinarnoï Medicini, 2. 2020.
46. Control GAfR. GARC RCS Tool Description (RCS Overview). 2025.
47. World Health O. Rabies vaccines: WHO position paper, April 2018 – Recommendations. Vaccine. 2018;36(37):5500-3.
48. Yang D-K, Kim H-H, Lee K-W, Song J-Y. The present and future of rabies vaccine in animals. cevr. 2013;2(1):19-25.