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Towards Canine Rabies Elimination in KwaZulu–Natal, South Africa: Assessment of Health Economic Data
Author(s) -
Shwiff S. A.,
Hatch B.,
Anderson A.,
Nel L. H.,
Leroux K.,
Stewart D.,
Scally M.,
Govender P.,
Rupprecht C. E.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
transboundary and emerging diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.392
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1865-1682
pISSN - 1865-1674
DOI - 10.1111/tbed.12283
Subject(s) - rabies , mass vaccination , vaccination , per capita , veterinary medicine , environmental health , medicine , post exposure prophylaxis , developing country , socioeconomics , geography , virology , biology , population , ecology , sociology
Summary Rabies remains a significant problem throughout much of the developing world. An estimated 69 000 people die annually from exposure to rabies. Most of these deaths are the result of being bitten by a rabid dog. Mass vaccination campaigns targeting dogs have been implemented around the world in an attempt to control or eliminate canine rabies. We analysed the vaccination and cost data for a campaign in the KwaZulu–Natal province of South Africa; we found that the cost per dog vaccinated to be $6.61 for mass campaigns and $5.41 for local campaigns. We also estimated the cost of human post‐exposure prophylaxis ( PEP ). The cost of PEP is approximately $64.50 on average per patient, and $333 on average for the 9% of patients who receive RIG . We also found that the districts that vaccinated the most dogs per capita experienced the highest rates of human treatment and thus had the highest PEP costs.