Gains and Future Road Map for the Elimination of Dog-Transmitted Rabies in the Americas

In 1983 the countries of the Americas, with the technical cooperation of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), pledged to eliminate human rabies transmitted by dogs.1 Since then, countries have made great efforts to eliminate this disease, with notable success, within the framework of the Regional Program of Elimination of Human Rabies. The success achieved during the last 30 years and the historical solidarity between countries in the region support the goal of elimination of dog-transmitted rabies in the American continent by 2015. As this date approaches, there is a need to reflect and reassess the current plan of rabies elimination. This work briefly describes the achievements of the Regional Program and the proposed new Regional Action Plan for the elimination of dog-transmitted rabies.