A5013566126- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Advanced Biosensing Techniques and Applications
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Advanced Malware Detection Techniques
- HER2/EGFR in Cancer Research
Global Alliance for Rabies Control
2017-2024
University of Pretoria
2014-2022
It is evident that rabies continues to be a neglected tropical disease; however, recent global drive aims eliminate canine-mediated human by 2030. Global efforts have been vested into creating and developing resources for countries take ownership of overcome the challenges poses. The disconnect between numbers cases reported estimated prediction models clear: key understanding epidemiology true burden lies within accurate timely data; poor discrepant data undermine its negate advocacy needed...
The major etiological agent of rabies, rabies virus (RABV), accounts for tens thousands human deaths per annum. majority these are associated with cycles in dogs resource-limited countries Africa and Asia. Although routine diagnosis plays an integral role disease surveillance management, the application currently recommended direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test on African Asian continents remains quite limited. A novel diagnostic assay, rapid immunohistochemical (dRIT), has been reported...
Haiti, a Caribbean country of 10.5 million people, is estimated to have the highest burden canine-mediated human rabies deaths in Western Hemisphere, and one rates world. Haiti also poorest Hemisphere has numerous economic health priorities that compete for rabies-control resources. As result, primary actions, including canine vaccination programs, surveillance systems animal rabies, appropriate postbite treatment, not been fully implemented at national scale. After 2010 earthquake further...
The Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa Rabies Control Network (MERACON), is built upon the achievements of East Europe Expert Bureau (MEEREB). MERACON aims to foster collaboration among Member States (MS) develop shared regional objectives, building momentum towards dog-mediated rabies control elimination. Here we assess epidemiology preparedness in twelve participating MS, using case capacity data for 2017, compare our findings with previous published reports a...
Despite declaration as a national priority disease, dog rabies remains endemic in Liberia, with surveillance systems and disease control activities still developing. The objective of these initial efforts was to establish animal diagnostics, foster collaboration between all stakeholders, develop short-term action plan estimated costs for elimination Liberia. Four diagnostic tests, the direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test, immunohistochemical test (dRIT), reverse transcriptase polymerase...
The elimination of canine rabies through the implementation high coverage mass dog vaccination campaigns is a complex task, particularly in resource-limited countries endemic world. Here we demonstrated feasibility applying targeted to deliver more impactful intervention settings using evidence and lessons learnt from other diseases. With use strategic programs, demonstrate noteworthy reduction cases two very different African settings. was most significantly aided by custom-developed...
Canine-mediated human rabies is endemic to the entire African continent, where disease burden often highest in rural communities of resource-limited countries. In this study, we analysed an animal outbreak, which had persisted since 2010 predominantly metropolitan capital city Zimbabwe, Harare. As considered disproportionally affect communities, persistence urban setting interest. order gain improved understanding epidemiology outbreak under investigation, utilised both routine surveillance...
Background Rabies lyssavirus (RABV) is the aetiologic agent of rabies, a disease that severely underreported in Nigeria as well elsewhere Africa and Asia. Despite role rabies diagnosis plays towards elucidating true burden disease, Nigeria–a country 180 million inhabitants–has limited number diagnostic facilities. In this study, we sought to investigate two World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)-recommended assays rabies–viz; direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA) rapid...
Rabies is a neglected zoonotic disease with veterinary and public health significance, particularly in Africa Asia. The current knowledge of the epidemiology rabies Mozambique limited because inadequate sample submission, constrained diagnostic capabilities lack molecular epidemiological research. We wanted to consider direct, rapid immunohistochemical test (DRIT) as an alternative direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) for diagnosis at laboratory Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Directorate...
Domestic dogs are responsible for 99% of all cases human rabies and thus, mass dog vaccination has been demonstrated to be the most effective approach towards elimination dog-mediated rabies. Namibia feasibility this by applying government-led strategic campaigns reduce both incidences in Northern Communal Areas since 2016. The lessons learnt using paper-based form data capturing management campaign during pilot roll out phase project (2016–2018) led implementation a simple accurate...
Despite the implementation of various control strategies aimed at eliminating canine-mediated rabies, disease is still endemic in up to 150 countries across world. Rabies remains South Africa, with reservoir species (both wildlife and domestic dogs) capable maintaining rabies infection, epidemiology yet be adequately defined. As such, this study used surveillance data collected between 1998 2019 from two diagnostic laboratories country for a statistical space–time analysis determine regions...
Rabies is widespread throughout Africa and Asia, despite the fact that control elimination of this disease has been proven to be feasible. Lesotho, a small landlocked country surrounded by South Africa, known endemic for rabies since 1980s but epidemiology remains poorly understood due limited sample submission, constrained diagnostic capabilities, lack molecular epidemiological data. Considering existing challenges experienced in we aimed evaluate direct, rapid immunohistochemical test...
Rabies remains endemic to the Harare Metropolitan Province of Zimbabwe, with a lack public participations potentially contributing limited success in eliminating disease. We hypothesized that rabies intervention campaigns were less successful than they could be as result poor understanding disease at community level, and thus aimed identify knowledge, attitudes, practices towards province.A cross-sectional survey, using semi-structured questionnaire, was implemented between January 2017 June...
International rabies networks have been formed in many of the canine-rabies endemic regions around world to create unified and directed regional approaches towards elimination. The aim first sub-regional Eastern Africa network meeting, which included Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, was discuss how individual country strategies could be coordinated address unique challenges that are faced within network. Stepwise Approach Rabies Elimination Global Dog Pathway tool were used...
Rabies is a viral zoonosis that causes an estimated 59,000 preventable human fatalities every year. While more than 120 countries remain endemic for dog-mediated rabies, the burden highest in Africa and Asia where 99% of rabies cases are caused by domestic dogs. One such rabies-endemic country South 42 deaths occur Although canine had been well described most provinces Africa, epidemiology within North West Province not defined prior to this investigation. As such, aim study was use...
Rabies has been listed as a priority zoonotic disease in many African countries and the countdown to reach goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030 means that control measures need be applied fast. In this context, an essential pillar any national plan is implementation reliable diagnostic techniques ensure success field surveillance systems. Although have received international support for rabies-some countries, like Benin, not similar level support. Indeed, until 2018,...
With the global impetus for elimination of canine-mediated human rabies, need robust rabies surveillance systems has become ever more important. Many countries are working to improve their programs and, as a result, reported use lateral flow devices (LFDs) is increasing. Despite known diagnostic limitations, previous studies have hypothesised that benefits associated with LFDs could make them potentially quite useful towards improving overall robustness programs. To test this, best practice...