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Rabies in Tanzania

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Viral disease 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.

Context

Main article: Rabies

Rabies is a fatal, preventable zoonosis that infects the central nervous system of mammals, caused by the lyssavirus. 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.

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.

Prevention schemes

There have been some efforts to control rabies through vaccination of the disease sources, which include dogs and other wildlife. 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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