title: Control of Dog Mediated Human Rabies in Haiti: No Time to Spare.
abstract: The American region has pledged to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2015. As part of these efforts, we describe the findings of a desk and field mission review of Haiti's rabies situation by the end of 2013. While government officials recognize the importance of dog-mediated rabies control, and the national rabies plan adequately contemplates the basic capacities to that effect, regular and sufficient implementation, for example, of dog vaccination, is hampered by limited funding. Compounding insufficient funding and human resources, official surveillance figures do not accurately reflect the risk to the population, as evidenced by the large number of rabid dogs detected by focalized and enhanced surveillance activities conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR) and the Health and Population Ministry (MSPP) with the technical assistance of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although international support is common, either in the form of on-the-ground technical support or donations of immunobiologicals, it is not comprehensive. In addition, there is limited coordination with MARNDR/MSPP and with other actors at the strategic or operational level due to human resources limitations. Given these findings, the 2015 elimination goal in the region is compromised by the situation in Haiti where control of the disease is not yet in sight despite the best efforts of the resolute national officials. More importantly, dog-mediated rabies is still a threat to the Haitian population.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
authors.forename: Max F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Millien
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Public Health and Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
authors.forename: Jocelyne B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pierre-Louis
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Vigilancia da Saude (SVS), Ministry of Health, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caldas
authors.affiliation: Pan American Health Organization, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
authors.forename: Jean M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rwangabgoba
authors.affiliation: Pan American Health Organization, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
authors.forename: Jean L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Poncelet
authors.affiliation: Pan American Center of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PANAFTOSA), Pan American Health Organization, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ottorino
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cosivi
authors.affiliation: Pan American Center of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PANAFTOSA), Pan American Health Organization, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Victor J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Del Rio Vilas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060740:Disease Eradication / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D004285:Dogs; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring / Q000662:veterinary; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology