ROYAL-SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE MEETING AT MANSON HOUSE, LONDON, 20 MARCH 1997 - EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF RABIES - THE GROWING PROBLEM OF RABIES IN AFRICA

Although rabies in Africa is relatively insignificant in terms of huma n mortality, the disease is still relevant because of the high costs o f rabies prevention. Over the past 2 decades, demographic, economic an d sociopolitical trends in Africa have increasingly favoured the persi stence and spread of rabies, while limiting the effectiveness of contr ol measures. Dog rabies predominates throughout most of Africa; the do mestic dog is the principal reservoir host as well as the most importa nt source of infection for people. However, wildlife rabies is increas ingly a concern, both as a threat to endangered wildlife populations a nd because of the possible emergence of new maintenance hosts.