About.A closer look to STOP Rabies Mindanao
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Overview
STOP Rabies Mindanao is a joint campaign to end rabies in the region, comprising of research initiatives from UP Mindanao, the STOP Rabies, RabCast, and RabDash DC.
Rabies is an untreatable disease with 100% fatality but is also 100% preventable. While rabies incidence has been drastically reduced in developing countries, it remains endemic in the Philippines. Despite the government’s nationwide campaign to eradicate rabies and the Rabies Intensification Program of Davao City, sporadic cases of rabies have been reported annually in the city.
We aim to conduct a comprehensive assessment of rabies epidemiology to evaluate the feasibility of a rabies-free Philippines, with Davao City as a case study. In particular, we will look into patterns or trends in rabies transmission and incidence, predict the outcome of interventions, and identify best practices and gaps in the current intervention programs.
Our final output is a Policy Brief and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials that can help strengthen our campaign against rabies. We are using multiple tools such as phylodynamic analysis, geographic information system, mathematical modeling, and impact assessment to generate a holistic picture of rabies in Davao City.
Our findings will help set the direction of the local government towards rabies prevention and management, which can ultimately benefit public health.
Rabies is an untreatable disease with 100% fatality but is also 100% preventable. While rabies incidence has been drastically reduced in developing countries, it remains endemic in the Philippines. Despite the government’s nationwide campaign to eradicate rabies and the Rabies Intensification Program of Davao City, sporadic cases of rabies have been reported annually in the city.
We aim to conduct a comprehensive assessment of rabies epidemiology to evaluate the feasibility of a rabies-free Philippines, with Davao City as a case study. In particular, we will look into patterns or trends in rabies transmission and incidence, predict the outcome of interventions, and identify best practices and gaps in the current intervention programs.
Our final output is a Policy Brief and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials that can help strengthen our campaign against rabies. We are using multiple tools such as phylodynamic analysis, geographic information system, mathematical modeling, and impact assessment to generate a holistic picture of rabies in Davao City.
Our findings will help set the direction of the local government towards rabies prevention and management, which can ultimately benefit public health.
Objectives
We intend to conduct a comprehensive, synoptic assessment of rabies transmission and control to help enhance strategies for rabies prevention in Davao. The STOP Rabies program is composed of four projects with the following specific objectives:
Project 1 |
Project 2 |
Project 3 |
Project 4 |
Evaluate the evolution, distribution, and transmission of local rabies virus strains based on isolated sequences, geospatial information, and mathematical modeling
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Model the long-term incidence of rabies as an outcome of government-based interventions since 2010
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Evaluate the effectiveness of rabies prevention, control, and management strategies in Animal Bite Centers and high-risk individuals
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Formulate recommendations on rabies preventions, control, and management based on the findings
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Rabies Disease
The Disease |
Symptoms |
Transmission |
Prevention and Control |
Rabies is an acute but lethal encephalomyelitis disease that can affect any mammal, including humans. It is caused by lyssavirus which travels from the body to the brain through the nervous system. Once it has reached the brain, the virus reproduces, causing inflammation and then it travels back through the nerves to most parts of the body.
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Once rabies symptoms are developed, it is 100% fatal and no treatment is available. There are two forms of rabies in dogs: furious and paralytic. Furious rabies is characterized by extreme behavioral changes including restlessness, sensitivity to sound and movement, wandering aimlessly into new areas, excessive reactions to people and animals, aggression, inability to swallow, and excessive salivation. Paralytic rabies, also referred to as dumb rabies, is characterized by weakness, loss of coordination, and paralysis. In humans, about six weeks after bitten by a rabid dog, the victim develops fever, headache, limb pain, burning and choking sensation in the throat, hallucinations, inability to swallow water, and hydrophobia. Death is usually caused by breathing failure.
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Rabies can be transmitted to humans and animals through bites or scratches from rabid animals. More than 99% of human rabies cases are a result of a dog bite.
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Prompt access to post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in rabies endemic countries and dog vaccination have been the key components of rabies elimination programs. Rabies can only be controlled if viral strains maintained or derived from dogs are eliminated which can be achieved through a high level of dog herd immunity by maintaining at least 70% vaccination coverage in the dog population. Mass dog vaccination has to be supported by education, community engagement, One Health approach, and dog population management. Culling of stray dogs has not been proven to be effective in controlling rabies.
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Today, rabies is considered as a neglected disease, which leads to a “false sense of security.” But the risk of zoonosis remains if rabies “hot spots” are not eliminated among dogs and other reservoir.
Rabies in the Philippines |
Rabies in Davao City |
Rabies incidence has been drastically reduced in developing countries but remains endemic in Asia and Africa, including the Philippines over the last decade. The Philippine Department of Health launched a nationwide campaign to eradicate rabies by 2020, but the country remains among the top 10 countries with a rabies problem with 200 to 300 human deaths due to dog-mediated rabies annually.
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In Davao City, the Rabies Intensification Program was launched in 2010 with four major strategies to help achieve a rabies-free city: 1) mass vaccination, 2) dog population management, 3) impounding of street dogs, and 4) Information, Education, and Communication. Animal Bite Centers have been established in the city to help manage human rabies cases through provision of PEP. Pre-exposure (PreP) vaccines are also available for high risk individuals such as school children in high incidence zones.
Despite the efforts, there has been an increase on rabies cases in recent years. The city also ranked 5th in the country in terms of animal bite cases. |