A Novel Integrated and Labile eHealth System for Monitoring Dog Rabies Vaccination Campaigns

Abstract

The elimination of canine rabies through the implementation of high coverage mass dog vaccination campaigns is a complex task, particularly in the resource-limited countries of the rabies endemic world. Here we demonstrated the feasibility of applying targeted rabies vaccination campaigns to deliver more impactful intervention campaigns in resource-limited settings using evidence and lessons learnt from other diseases. With the use of strategic rabies intervention programs, we demonstrate the noteworthy reduction of rabies cases in two very different African settings. The strategic intervention was most significantly aided by the use of a custom-developed vaccination tracking device (the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) Data Logger) and an integrated rabies surveillance system (the Rabies Epidemiological Bulletin). Our first case study, an island-wide strategic dog vaccination on Tanzania’s Unguja island, reduced the incidence of rabies by 71% in the first 16 months of implementation. In the second case study, a similar approach was applied in the metropolitan capital city of Zimbabwe and the incidence of rabies declined by 13% during the first 13 months of implementation. The methodologies and results presented here suggest that, in resource-limited settings, an optimal approach towards the elimination of dog rabies would revolve around strategic interventions, subject to the use of appropriate planning, surveillance, and vaccination tools.

Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of lateral flow devices as a tool to diagnose rabies in post-mortem animals

“…As demonstrated in the present study and other reports [22,33], some LFDs showed high sensitivity and specificity, which seem to be sufficiently reliable for decision-making of mass dog vaccination and for its post evaluation in endemic countries. Furthermore, by connecting with the Global Positioning System (GPS), the date, time, and location of the diagnosis can be easily registered, and on-site diagnosis can be integrated into data collection using mobile phone applications, which are used in the assessment of mass dog rabies vaccination [10,50]. If the epidemiological situation can be visualized and evidenced through the surveillance system suggested, a government might improve the priority of rabies control measures.…”

“…Mass dog vaccination is included in the first phase of this activity because it is the most cost-effective strategy to control and eventually eliminate rabies. To implement mass vaccination in resource-limited countries, it is necessary to design a less expensive but effective vaccination program [10,11]. Surveillance and epidemiology data are essential to design effective and economic strategies, such as focusing on areas where rabies is endemic.…”

Application of the GARC Data Logger—a custom-developed data collection device—to capture and monitor mass dog vaccination campaigns in Namibia

“…Twenty GDL devices were procured to capture and monitor the MDV activities. The GDL was developed as a labile, hand-held data collection device that consist of a robust hard-wearing plastic casing, touch-activated buttons and indicator light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which make it rather resistant to damage and breakage [ 24 ]. The GDL can collect the most important data associated with every vaccinated animal (animal species, sex and age) in the field within approximately three seconds.…”

“…One challenge identified particularly during the roll out phase of the program was the collection of dog vaccination and other related data mainly on standard paper-based forms [ 21 ]. To overcome limitations in efficient and timely collection of dog rabies vaccination data and subsequent analysis, we initiated the implementation of a portable custom-developed data-capturing device–the GARC Data Logger (GDL) and the integration of captured data into the website-based Rabies Epidemiological Bulletin (REB) platform [ 24 , 25 ] to improve monitoring and optimization of future mass dog vaccination campaigns (MDV). Here, we describe the experiences on the application of data logger for the near real time management of MDV data during 2019 and 2020 campaign in Namibia.…”

One Health Landscape in Sub-Saharan African Countries

“…Also, the FELTP programme has since kick-started in October 2008 and is facilitating joint human-animal-environment and laboratory-field joint investigations and interventions 33 . Tanzania Mainland and the Islands of Zanzibar using OH approach [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] . Using innovative OH approach involving practitioners and students of One Health, FAO had partnered with the government of Tanzania to deliver rabies control in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region 27,42 .…”