Dog Ecology and Barriers to Canine Rabies Control in the Republic of Haiti, 2014-2015

Abstract

An estimated 59 000 persons die annually of infection with the rabies virus worldwide, and dog bites are responsible for 95% of these deaths. Haiti has the highest rate of animal and human rabies in the Western Hemisphere. This study describes the status of animal welfare, animal vaccination, human bite treatment, and canine morbidity and mortality in Haiti in order to identify barriers to rabies prevention and control. An epidemiologic survey was used for data collection among dog owners during government-sponsored vaccination clinics at fourteen randomly selected sites from July 2014 to April 2015. A total of 2005 surveys were collected and data were analysed using parametric methods. Over 50% of owned dogs were allowed to roam freely, a factor associated with rabies transmission. More than 80% of dog owners reported experiencing barriers to accessing rabies vaccination for their dogs. Nearly one-third of the dog population evaluated in this study died in the year preceding the survey (32%) and 18% of these deaths were clinically consistent with rabies. Dog bites were commonly reported, with more than 3% of the study population bitten within the year preceding the survey. The incidence of canine rabies in Haiti is high and is exacerbated by low access to veterinary care, free-roaming dog populations and substandard animal welfare practices. Programmes to better understand the dog ecology and development of methods to improve access to vaccines are needed. Rabies deaths are at historical lows in the Western Hemisphere, but Haiti and the remaining canine rabies endemic countries still present a significant challenge to the goal of rabies elimination in the region.

Epidemiology and surveillance of human animal-bite injuries and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, in selected counties in Kenya, 2011–2016

“…Similar reports by ZDU-Kenya indicated that only 23% of owned dogs were routinely vaccinated in Makueni county [17, 18] while another study estimated that dog vaccination coverage in Kenya was 0.5% [3]. In tandem with the increased use of dogs as companion and guard animals in Kenya, the number of dog bites is likely to increase and as a result there will likely be an increase in rabies transmission especially in rural areas where dogs are not leashed and move freely thereby increasing the risk of exposure to rabies [16–19]. …”

Effect of counselling on health-care-seeking behaviours and rabies vaccination adherence after dog bites in Haiti, 2014–15: a retrospective follow-up survey

“…When available, the vaccine in these centres is given free of charge, although there are often shortages. In 2014, for instance, Haiti received a sufficient stock of human rabies vaccines to treat 4000 people with suspected rabies exposure, yet an estimated 200 000 people experienced dog bites, 24 meaning that many suspected rabies exposures probably went untreated. Private pharmacies charge around US$12 per vaccine dose.…”

Dog-Mediated Human Rabies Death, Haiti, 2016

“…A 2014 survey estimated that 95,000 animal bites occur annually in Haiti (1% bite rate) ( 5 ). However, only 6,500 bites (6.8% of estimated bites) were reported through the national surveillance program that year.…”