Benefit-cost analysis of coordinated strategies for control of rabies in Africa

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 5370
• Main Authors: Bucher, A., Dimov, A., Fink, G., Chitnis, N., Bonfoh, B., Zinsstag, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 07.09.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/326/590; 692/699/255/2514; 692/700/3934; 692/700/478/174; 706/134; Cost analysis; Cost benefit analysis; Disease control; Dogs; Humanities and Social Sciences; Immunization; Mathematical models; multidisciplinary; Rabies; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Vaccination; Africa
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41110-2

Previous research suggests that dog mass vaccination campaigns can eliminate rabies locally, resulting in large human and animal life gains. Despite these demonstrated benefits, dog vaccination programs remain scarce on the African continent. We conducted a benefit-cost analysis to demonstrate that engaging into vaccination campaigns is the dominant strategy for most countries even in the absence of coordinated action between them. And quantify how coordinated policy measures across countries in Africa could impact rabies incidence and associated costs. We show that coordinated dog mass vaccination between countries and PEP would lead to the elimination of dog rabies in Africa with total welfare gains of USD 9.5 billion (95% CI: 8.1 – 11.4 billion) between 2024 and 2054 (30 years). Coordinated disease control between African countries can lead to more socially and ecologically equitable outcomes by reducing the number of lost human lives to almost zero and possibly eliminating rabies. Control of rabies in Africa through mass vaccination of dogs may be compromised by cross-border transmission. Here, the authors use mathematical modelling and a benefit-cost analysis to demonstrate that coordinating rabies control measures across borders could lead to the elimination of dog rabies in Africa.