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Evaluation of country infrastructure as an indirect measure of dog-mediated human rabies deaths

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Evaluation of country infrastructure as an indirect measure of dog-mediated human rabies deaths
Authors: Sarah C. Bonaparte, Janae Moodie, Eduardo A. Undurraga, Ryan M. Wallace
Source: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Vol 10 (2023)
Publisher Information: Frontiers Media S.A., 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Veterinary medicine
Subject Terms: rabies—epidemiology, evaluation, country infrastructure, human rabies deaths, rabies surveillance, dog-mediated human rabies elimination, Veterinary medicine, SF600-1100
Description: BackgroundRabies is a neglected disease, primarily due to poor detection stemming from limited surveillance and diagnostic capabilities in most countries. As a result, there is limited ability to monitor and evaluate country, regional, and global progress towards the WHO goal of eliminating human rabies deaths by 2030. There is a need for a low-cost, readily reproducible method of estimating rabies burden and elimination capacity in endemic countries.MethodsPublicly available economic, environmental, political, social, public health, and One Health indicators were evaluated to identify variables with strong correlation to country-level rabies burden estimates. A novel index was developed to estimate infrastructural rabies elimination capacity and annual case-burden for dog-mediated rabies virus variant (DMRVV) endemic countries.FindingsFive country-level indicators with superior explanatory value represent the novel “STOP-R index:” (1) literacy rate, (2) infant mortality rate, (3) electricity access, (4) political stability, and (5) presence/severity of natural hazards. Based on the STOP-R index, 40,111 (95% CI 25,854–74,344) global human rabies deaths are estimated to occur in 2022 among DMRVV-endemic countries and are projected to decrease to 32,349 (95% CI 21,110–57,019) in 2030.InterpretationThe STOP-R index offers a unique means of addressing the data gap and monitoring progress towards eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths. Results presented here suggest that factors external to rabies programs influence the successes of rabies elimination, and it is now possible to identify countries exceeding or lagging in expected rabies control and elimination progress based on country infrastructure.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2297-1769
Relation: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1147543/full; https://doaj.org/toc/2297-1769
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1147543
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/0c6081d1a4b84af4b04d482fb2c8231d
Accession Number: edsdoj.0c6081d1a4b84af4b04d482fb2c8231d
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
Description
Abstract:BackgroundRabies is a neglected disease, primarily due to poor detection stemming from limited surveillance and diagnostic capabilities in most countries. As a result, there is limited ability to monitor and evaluate country, regional, and global progress towards the WHO goal of eliminating human rabies deaths by 2030. There is a need for a low-cost, readily reproducible method of estimating rabies burden and elimination capacity in endemic countries.MethodsPublicly available economic, environmental, political, social, public health, and One Health indicators were evaluated to identify variables with strong correlation to country-level rabies burden estimates. A novel index was developed to estimate infrastructural rabies elimination capacity and annual case-burden for dog-mediated rabies virus variant (DMRVV) endemic countries.FindingsFive country-level indicators with superior explanatory value represent the novel “STOP-R index:” (1) literacy rate, (2) infant mortality rate, (3) electricity access, (4) political stability, and (5) presence/severity of natural hazards. Based on the STOP-R index, 40,111 (95% CI 25,854–74,344) global human rabies deaths are estimated to occur in 2022 among DMRVV-endemic countries and are projected to decrease to 32,349 (95% CI 21,110–57,019) in 2030.InterpretationThe STOP-R index offers a unique means of addressing the data gap and monitoring progress towards eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths. Results presented here suggest that factors external to rabies programs influence the successes of rabies elimination, and it is now possible to identify countries exceeding or lagging in expected rabies control and elimination progress based on country infrastructure.
ISSN:22971769
DOI:10.3389/fvets.2023.1147543