Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Rabies in the Americas, 2005–2009

Full Text (in Spanish, 33 pp, PDF, via the Virtual Library in Veterinary Public Health / VHL at PANAFTOSA; chapter headings translated below for user orientation) Summary (text to right)
1. Background & Justification
2. Situation Diagnosis
2.1. Description of the Problem
- Anti-Rabies Prophylaxis in Humans
- Dog-Transmitted Rabies
- Bat-Transmitted Rabies
- Rabies Transmitted by Other Mammalian Species
2.2. Critical Aspects of & Main Challenges to Current Programs
2.3. Budget Allocated for Rabies & Fiscal Efficiency
3. Prognostic
4. Goal & Objectives (text to right)
5. Strategy
5.1. Stakeholders: Active Agents & Target Population
5.2. Basis & Critical Aspects
5.3. Central Criteria: Effective of Local Action
- Risk Characterization
- Joint Action
- Complementarity with National Programs
5.4. Values
6. Components (Expected Results)
6.1. Improved Availability and Quality of Care to Persons Exposed to & Pre-Exposed to the Rabies Virus
6.2. Dog-Transmitted Rabies Eliminated
6.3. Reduced Risk of Wildlife-Transmitted Human Rabies
6.4. Strengthened Capacity in the Countries
Annex 1: Recommendations of REDIPRA X
Annex 2: Problem Tree & Objectives
Annex 3: Expected Results, Actions, Indicators, & Verification Instruments
References

More PAHO Materials on Rabies

Expert Consultation on Human Rabies Transmitted by Vampire Bats in the Amazon Region

Country Data:
See online data at SIEPI (Epidemiological Information System) & SIRVERA (Epidemiological Information System on Rabies)

Evaluation Methodology: Elimination of Human and Dog Rabies in Latin America

Situation Analysis: Elimination of Dog-Transmitted Human Rabies in Latin America (Results of Study)

Epidemiological Situation of Rabies in Latin America in 2004, PAHO Epidemiological Bulletin, Vol 26, No. 1, March 2005)

REDIPRA: Meetings of Directors of National Programs for Rabies Control in Latin America

RIMSA: Inter-American Meeting, at Ministerial Level, on Health and Agriculture

- Rabies
- Zoonoses / Animal Health
- Veterninary Public Health Unit
- Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center (PANAFTOSA)

WHO: Human & Animal Rabies

Goal: To prevent avoidable rabies cases.

Objectives

• Complete the process of eliminating human rabies transmitted by dogs.
• Reduce the risk of human rabies transmitted by other species.

Summary

The Action Plan for the Elimination of Urban Rabies from the Principal Cities of Latin America which has been in force since 1983, was the result of the 3^rd RIMSA and of the XXXI PAHO Directing Council; its objectives were expanded at the IV REDIPRA (PAHO/WHO, 1992) to the elimination of dog transmitted rabies in small conglomerates and rural areas and emphasize was made on the importance of wildlife rabies.

Since 1983 the occurrence of dog transmitted rabies has diminished steadily: a reduction in approximately 90% of human and canine cases was registered. Wildlife transmitted rabies registered a cyclic and recurrent behavior; stress is made on the persistence of non-mitigated risk factors of vampire bats transmitted rabies in tropical and subtropical areas.

Having good prospects for the elimination of dog transmitted rabies and for the prevention of rabies transmitted by other species, some determinants were identified which make probable unfavorable scenarios if appropriate measures are not taken. Among these the most troubling are the:

• scarcity of rabies vaccines and sera,
• increase of areas with dog-to-dog transmission of rabies,
• outbreaks of vampire-bat-transmitted rabies in communities far from local healthcare centers, and
• in specific cases, lack of capacity for local action.

Under this scenario, it was considered appropriate to promote a review of the Pan American actions for the prevention of the avoidable rabies cases setting the aims of completing the process of elimination of dog transmitted rabies and to diminish the risk of rabies transmitted through other species, though four components:

1. rabies treatment for people;
2. elimination of dog-transmitted rabies (variants 1 and 2);
3. prevention of human cases of wildlife rabies; and
4. increasing country capacity to carry out the actions leading to the proposed goal and objectives.

PANAFTOSA Online Systems

SIRVERA: Epidemiological Information System on Rabies	SIEPI: Epidemiological Information System	VHL: Virtual Libary in Veterinary Public Health