A5046319560- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Anomaly Detection Techniques and Applications
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
Ifakara Health Institute
2016-2025
University of Glasgow
2017-2025
Sokoine University of Agriculture
2021-2025
Glasgow Centre for Population Health
2017-2023
Animal and Plant Health Agency
2022-2023
Points• Surveillance is critical to manage preventative health services and control infectious diseases.Integrated surveillance involving public health, veterinary, environmental sectors urgently needed effectively zoonoses vector-borne diseases.However, most in low-income countries paper-based, provides negligible timely feedback, poorly incentivised, results delays, limited reporting, inaccurate data, costly processing.• The potential of mobile technologies for improving system has been...
Tens of thousands people die from dog-mediated rabies annually. Deaths can be prevented through post-exposure prophylaxis for who have been bitten, and the disease eliminated dog vaccination. Current use saves many lives, but availability remains poor in rabies-endemic countries due to high costs, access, supply.
A rabies elimination demonstration project was implemented in Tanzania from 2010 through to 2015, bringing together government ministries the health and veterinary sectors, World Health Organization (WHO), national international research institutions. Detailed data on mass dog vaccination campaigns, bite exposures, use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) human deaths were collected throughout duration areas. Despite no previous experience within areas, district officers able implement...
Rabies is preventable through prompt administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to exposed persons, but PEP access limited in many rabies-endemic countries. We investigated how can be improved better prevent human rabies.Using data from different settings Tanzania, including contact tracing (2,367 probable rabies exposures identified) and large-scale mobile phone-based surveillance (24,999 patient records), we estimated the incidence bite-injuries, examined health seeking outcomes...
Rabies is a neglected zoonotic disease that causes an estimated 59,000 human deaths worldwide annually, mostly in Africa and Asia. A target of zero from dog-mediated rabies has been set for 2030, large-scale control programs are now advocated. However most low-income endemic countries surveillance to guide weak few cases recorded. There urgent need enhance improve timely case detection inform prevention, by operationalizing ‘One Health’ approach. Here we present data study piloting...
Almost half of all countries in the world are effectively free human deaths from dog-mediated rabies. But disease still affects people low- and middle-income countries, especially rural poor, children. Successful regional elimination rabies is attributable to advances significant sustained investment dog vaccination, post-exposure vaccination surveillance, illustrated by productive efforts reduce Latin America over last 35 years. Nonetheless, facing endemic face barriers elimination. Using...
An increasing number of countries are committing to meet the global target eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. Mass dog vaccination is central this strategy. To interrupt transmission dogs humans, World Health Organization recommends that campaigns should be carried out every year in all dog-owning communities vaccinating 70% their susceptible dogs. Monitoring and evaluation needed measure progress towards elimination. In study, we measured delivery performance...
Dog-mediated rabies is endemic across Africa causing thousands of human deaths annually. A One Health approach to advocated, comprising emergency post-exposure vaccination bite victims and mass dog break the transmission cycle. However, impacts cost-effectiveness these components are difficult disentangle. We combined contact tracing with whole-genome sequencing track in animal reservoir spillover risk humans from 2010 2020, investigating how a reduced disease burden eliminated Pemba Island,...
Rabies can be eliminated by achieving comprehensive coverage of 70% domestic dogs during annual mass vaccination campaigns. Estimates are therefore required to evaluate and manage dog programmes, however there is no specific guidance for the most accurate efficient methods estimating in different settings. Here we compare post-vaccination transects, school-based surveys household across 28 districts southeast Tanzania Pemba island covering rural, urban, coastal inland settings, a range...
Abstract Background With a global target set for zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 and some regional programmes close to eliminating canine rabies, there is an urgent need enhanced surveillance strategies suitable declaring freedom disease elimination of transmission with known confidence. Methods Using exhaustive contact tracing across settings in Tanzania we generated detailed data on incidence, rabid dog biting behaviour health-seeking bite victims. these compared case...
Abstract Understanding the role of different species in transmission multi‐host pathogens, such as rabies virus, is vital for effective control strategies. Across most sub‐Saharan Africa domestic dogs Canis familiaris are considered reservoir rabies, but wildlife has been long debated. Here we explore dynamics across south‐east Tanzania. Between January 2011 and July 2019, data on probable cases were collected regions Lindi Mtwara. Hospital records animal‐bite patients presenting to...
Estimates of dog population sizes are a prerequisite for delivering effective canine rabies control. However, generally unknown in most rabies-endemic areas. Several approaches have been used to estimate populations but without rigorous evaluation. We compare post-vaccination transects, household surveys, and school-based surveys determine which precisely estimates sizes. These methods were implemented across 28 districts southeast Tanzania, conjunction with mass vaccinations, covering range...
Sustained vaccination coverage of domestic dog populations can interrupt rabies transmission. However, challenges remain including low owner participation, high operational costs associated with current (centralized and annually delivered (pulse)) approaches population turnover. To address these an alternative (community-based continuous mass (CBC-MDV)) approach was designed. We investigated the potential for successful normalization CBC-MDV into routine practice within context local...
Abstract Rabies virus is a multi-host zoonotic pathogen that endemic across large parts of sub-Saharan Africa. This case study reports One Health approach to rabies in Tanzania which highlights the value multi-sectoral collaboration and illustrates importance understanding reservoir dynamics pathogens when targeting interventions. As part our research, we have established contact tracing for Tanzania. involves identifying patients presenting with animal-bite injuries investigating animals...
Abstract The “Zero by 30” strategic plan aims to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies 2030 and domestic dog vaccination is a vital component of this plan. In areas where has been implemented, it important assess the impact intervention. Additionally, understanding temporal seasonal trends in incidence animal cases may assist optimizing such interventions. Data on probable wild animals were collected between January 2011 December 2018 thirteen districts south-east Tanzania jackals...
Background: The public health and socio-economic burden of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) in East Africa is not well documented. Understanding the epidemiology impact HAT such settings difficult due to a lack robust surveillance reporting systems, restricting evidence-based policy development contributing continued neglect this disease.Objective: To investigate Urambo District, Tanzania order inform future policy. Methods: A rapid participatory appraisal (RPA) using combination...
Abstract Vaccine-based protection in populations that are vulnerable to infectious diseases represents a public good, whose successful attainment requires collective action. We investigated participation mass domestic dog vaccination against dog-mediated human rabies endemic Tanzania as prototypical example of these issues. employed advertising interventions, text messaging and/or engagement through community leaders, well operational adjustments increase the saliency risks and reduce...
ObjectiveUsing active surveillance approaches to investigate the transmissiondynamics of rabies on Pemba Island and across Southern Tanzania,whilst a large-scale dog vaccination program was underway1, gaina greater understanding dynamics infection as disease isdriven towards elimination.IntroductionRabies is endemic in Tanzania has circulated Islandsince late 1990s. In 2010, an elimination programme initiatedin demonstrate that human deathscan be eliminated through mass vaccinations. We used...
Estimates of dog population sizes are a prerequisite for delivering effective canine rabies control. However, generally unknown in most rabies-endemic areas. Several approaches have been used to estimate populations but without rigorous evaluation. We compare post-vaccination transects, household surveys and school-based determine which precisely estimates sizes. These methods were implemented across 28 districts southeast Tanzania, conjunction with mass vaccinations, covering range...
A lack of methods to identify individual animals can be a barrier zoonoses control. We developed and field-tested facial recognition technology for mobile phone application dogs, which we used assess vaccination coverage against rabies in rural Tanzania. Dogs were vaccinated, registered using the application, microchipped. During subsequent household visits validate vaccination, dogs their status determined by operators classify as vaccinated (matched) or unvaccinated (unmatched), with...