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Feasibility
and factors affecting global elimination and possible
eradication of rabies in the world
A. A. Ogun1,
I. O. Okonko2*, A. O. Udeze3, I. Shittu4,
K. N. Garba2, A. Fowotade5, O. G. Adewale6,
E. A. Fajobi7, B. A. Onoja2, E. T. Babalola8
and A. O. Adedeji8
1Department
of Epidemiology, Medical Statistics and Environmental
Health, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine,
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
2Department
of Virology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of
Medicine, University of Ibadan, University College Hospital
(UCH) Ibadan, Nigeria.
3Virology
Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences,
University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
4Department
of Viral Research, National Veterinary Research Institute,
P.M.B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.
5Department
of Medical Microbiology and
Parasitology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital,
Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
6Department
of Biochemistry, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye,
Ogun State, Nigeria.
7Department
of Basic Sciences, Federal College of Wildlife Management,
New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria.
8Department
of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
mac2finney@yahoo.com
. Tel: +234-80-3538-0891.
Accepted 21 December, 2009 |
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This article reviews the feasibility of global eradication
of rabies and factors affecting eradication of rabies in the
world. Effective vaccines are now available against many
viruses making eradication a viable proposition. As in the
case of smallpox, the following questions should be
addressed when the feasibility of eradication of a
particular human virus disease is considered. Is the disease
worth eradicating? Is there any animal reservoir? Is there a
carrier state? Is effective vaccination available? How
communicable is the rabies? What level of coverage is
required for eradication? What are the possibilities for
rabies control in reservoir hosts? Can rabies be controlled
in wildlife reservoirs? Can the population density of
reservoir hosts be reduced? Can contact between wild dogs
and domestic dogs be minimized? Whether a virus disease can
be eradicated or not depends on many factors, not least on
the will power to implement such a policy. These factors
include human (increased
human activities and international travel; lack of adequate
public awareness, proper surveillance, emergency
preparedness planning, solid commitment and resourced
initiatives among others); socioeconomic (major ecologic
changes, agricultural practices, poverty, increasing demands
for meat etc.); animal factors (illegal importation,
population increase,
migration of dogs, stray animals etc.); and vaccines and
vaccination (low vaccination
coverage and potent vaccines,
vaccine failure, inferior vaccine quality, vaccine
shortage, high cost, existence of multiple hosts, reservoir
and healthy carriers etc.). Rabies eradication is not
feasible because of the extensive factors
and the inability to eliminate reservoirs with existing
technology. However, elimination of human rabies in urban
areas may be possible through different strategies.
Vaccination of stray dogs could lead to the eradication of
rabies in countries where dog rabies is the sole source of
human exposure. Research to design strategies for rabies
control globally, is urgently needed. Additional genetic
work will help to set priorities for the conservation of
populations which may be genetically unique for spread of
rabies and other related diseases.
Key words:
Animal factor, continual endemicity, effective vaccines,
eradicability, feasibility, human, socioeconomic,
vaccination. |
