ARC - Alliance for Rabies Control

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

b) To alleviate the burden of rabies in animal species, primarily through mass dog vaccination:

Preventing rabies outbreaks in wild animal populations, particularly endangered species
Preventing animal suffering and improving community attitudes towards animals through educational initiative stressing 'responsible pet ownership'
Reducing livestock losses

c) To promote education of major target groups, focusing on:

International and national agencies involved in implementing health policies
The general public in rabies endemic areas, principally children between 5-15 (the age group incurring the highest incidence of dog bites and rabies)
Human and animal health professionals, animal control workers and field personnel
Wildlife agencies and wildlife management personnel

d) To raise awareness of rabies, by focussing on:

Encouraging rabies endemic countries to institute their own rabies awareness activites focusing specifically on governmental agencies, medical and veterinary professionals, medical veterinary and public health students, the general public and appropriate decision makers.

e) To undertake and promote surveillance of rabies in human and animal populations:

To determine more accurate estimates of disease burden and thus to raise awareness of the current disease problem
To optimise the essential use of rabies biologicals for human prevention including vaccines and immunoglobulin
To evaluate the impact of disease control measures

3. Where is the Alliance for Rabies Control based?

The Alliance for Rabies Control is a non-profit organization with two branches:

Alliance for Rabies Control, established in Scotland in 2006 and the headquarters of the organization (registered charity No. SC 037712)
Global Alliance for Rabies Control, established in 2007 in the US (a registered 501c3 organization)

4. Is the Alliance for Rabies Control a registered charity/non-profit?
Yes, both the Alliance for Rabies Control and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control are registered as charitable non-profit organizations. The Alliance for Rabies Control has charitable status in the United Kingdom (Charity number SC 037112) and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control in the US (a 501c3 organization)

5. Can I work for the Alliance for Rabies Control?
There are a range of opportunities to work with the Alliance. Please see the Get Involved page.

6. Can I volunteer with the Alliance for Rabies Control?
There are a range of opportunities to work with the Alliance. Please see the Get Involved page.

7. Can I raise money for the Alliance for Rabies Control?
Every little helps, and any contribution you can make will be appreciated. Please see our Get Involved page for more information, and please do contact us if you have innovative ideas you would like to discuss.

8. How do I find out about rabies?
See the About Rabies page for basic information, teaching materials, Scientific Literature page for scientific papers and review and links page for travel advice and global rabies data.

9. Can I request funding from the Alliance for Rabies Control?
To date all the Alliance projects have come through recommendations of the Technical Advisory Group and through specific "Calls for proposals".

10. Will dog vaccination be effective in controlling rabies if there are wildlife species in an area?
In Asia and Africa (with the exception of some areas in southern Africa), the domestic dog is the main reservoir for rabies. As rabies is generally maintained only in a single reservoir population in any given area, control of disease in this population will result in its disappearance from all other species. This has been demonstrated with the elimination of rabies following oral vaccination of foxes in western Europe, where red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are the reservoir host. Results from research projects in eastern Africa prove that mass vaccination of domestic dogs will have the same result, even in areas (such as the Serengeti ecosystem) which comprise a wide diversity of wildlife species. When sufficient percentage of the domestic dog population is vaccinated, rabies also declines in wildlife species and human exposures to the rabies virus are significantly reduced.

11. Where might I catch rabies?
For information on rabies risks, please see the About Rabies pages. For travel advice on specific countries, see the World Health Organization, the United States Centers for Disease Control, or the United Kingdom Health Protection Agency.

12. I've been bitten by a dog that might be rabid - what do I do?
Firstly, apply first aid, as below. Then you MUST seek medical advice as soon as possible.

The World Health Organization recommends that after a dog bite occurs, the proper course of action to prevent includes: "immediate vigorous washing and flushing of the wound with soap and water, detergent or water alone for at least 10 minutes(this procedure is recommended for all bite wounds, including those unrelated to possible exposure to rabies). Then apply either ethanol (700 ml/L) or tincture or aqueous solution of iodine or povidone iodine." This will help to prevent secondary infections, but you MUST then seek appropriate medical advice for possible Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for rabies.

13. Is rabies fatal?
Yes, rabies has the highest case fatality rate of any infectious disease known to man. Both Pre-exposure (PreP) and post- exposure prophylaxis(PEP)are, if appropriately administered, almost always effective in preventing rabies. PreP is administered to those persons considered to be at risk of exposure due to their vocational or where they live. PEP is administered after an exposure occurs in order to prevent the development of rabies. Once the clinical onset of rabies is evident, there is no cure available, and, with extremely rare exceptions, death is inevitable. It is therefore extremely important to get prompt medical treatment. THe Alliance for Rabies Control aims to improve educational awareness as to the necessity to how to prevent rabies and also aims to increase access to PreP and PEP for humans at risk of rabies infection.

14. Is post-exposure prophylaxis necessary if someone is bitten by a monkey?
If the monkey bite occurred in a rabies endemic area, the monkey should be tested by a reliable rabies diagnostic laboratory to determine if the animal was infected with rabies. If this is not possible, the bitten person should seek medical advice and undergo post-exposure prophylaxis according to the current WHO recommendations.

15. How often are routine boosters needed after pre-exposure immunisation?
The recommended booster schedule depends upon the potential risk of exposure. Persons at high risk of exposure, (rabies laboratory workers etc.) ideally should have blood test to evaluate the presence of rabies neutralizing antibodies. The time interval between blood tests is determined by the degree of risk, for example laboratory workers working in areas with constant risk of exposure should have blood test conducted every six months. In the event that their serological titre falls below 0.5 IU/mL, they should receive one routine booster injection. Others at low risk of exposure do not need a routine booster. In the event that persons that have received pre-exposure vaccination previously are subsequently exposed to a suspect rabid animal, they should receive two booster doses of vaccine (day 0 and day 3) without the administration of rabies immune globulin.

16. What if my question is not answered here?
If you have any further questions, please get in touch - see Contact Us. The Alliance for Rabies Control does not currently deliver travel medicine advice to the general public - please see Links page for information on where to get appropriate advice.