Haiti uses mobile phones to promote rabies vaccination campaigns

12 September 2018

Geneva | Port-au-Prince –– Rabies is a public health hazard in Haiti, with eight officially-reported deaths in 2017. Estimates suggest, however, that it is likely that the death toll from this entirely vaccine-preventable disease is much higher.. Despite annual vaccination, reaching 100 000–300 000 dogs in Haiti, achieving the coverage rate of 70% has been difficult.

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories. Here the example of Haiti.

Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths

Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans.

40% of people bitten are children

40% of people bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age.

Rabies elimination is feasible

Rabies elimination is feasible through vaccination of dogs and prevention of dog bites.

Immediate wound washing is crucial and can save lives

Immediate, thorough wound washing with soap and water after contact with a suspect rabid animal is crucial and can save lives.

Infection causes tens of thousands of deaths every year

Infection causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, mainly in Asia and Africa.

United Against Rabies

WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) have established a global “United Against Rabies” collaboration to provide a common strategy to achieve "Zero human rabies deaths by 2030".

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