Rabies control in rural Tanzania: Problems and Solutions

The title of the article in the Arusha Times from October 27, 2012 read simply, “Boy dies of rabies despite sangoma intervention.” 

Melio Thadayo, 14 years old from Landani village in the Simanjiro district, Manyara region succumbed to his illness on October 19, 2012.   After sustaining a dog bite wound on September 24, 2012, his parents chose not to seek medical care on the advice of a traditional healer in their village who claimed to have a cure for rabies. Newsprint does little to convey the parents’ grief over the loss of a child or their outrage at the misinformation that resulted in their inaction.

Everyday around the world, 60 families receive the heartbreaking news that their child under the age of 15 has died from rabies. Everyday around the world, rabies claims 90 more victims over the age of 15 – 150 victims worldwide every day. Most of the victims come from rural communities in Africa and Asia.  Dog bites are the most common route of exposure.  The travesty lies in the fact that rabies vaccine for dogs is inexpensive, widely available and extremely effective in preventing human exposure.

Left to right: Pastor William Makali, Founder of FDM, Felicho Simbee, Livestock Field Officer, Iramba District, Abdullah Hamis, Chief Livestock Field Officer, Iramba District and Dan Randall, DVM

For four days in September 2013, a team of 10 volunteers from Full Dimension Ministry USA led by veterinarian Dr. Dan Randall, Greenville, South Carolina, USA  in cooperation with Dr. Thomas. Dotto, District Veterinary Officer, Iramba District, Tanzania, visited seven villages in the Yulansoni Valley administering free rabies vaccine to dogs. 

In 2012, the Iramba district alone there were 50 confirmed cases of rabies in dogs. The resulting human exposure is unknown.  This was the first time that any rabies vaccination programs had been provided in this region.  When the numbers were tallied, a total of 502 dogs out of an estimated 750 dogs in the targeted area were vaccinated for rabies.  In conjunction with the vaccination effort, educational programs on rabies virus, bite prevention, wound care and post-exposure treatment were provided for those in attendance as well.  

It is difficult for Westerners to appreciate the difficulty of obtaining rabies post-exposure prophylaxis for the average resident of rural Africa.   Villagers may have to walk for miles to get to an improved road where they might catch a bus or hire a motorcycle taxi to take them the 45-60 kilometers to a district hospital that may or may not have rabies vaccine.  If they are able to pay for transportation, often the full vaccination series – five injections at about $16 US per injection - is cost prohibitive on an average household income of $18 US per month.  

Canine rabies vaccination programs have proven to be the most effective strategy for reducing the threat of human exposure to rabies. 

Funding for this project was provided through a cooperative effort between Merial, USA, Foothills Veterinary Hospital, PC, and Full Dimensions Ministry USA.  Through our efforts we hope to continue to improve the quality of life for the residents of the Yulansoni Valley by reducing the risk of rabies.  Our goal is to hold vaccination clinics in the valley every 2-3 years for the foreseeable future.

Submitted by Daniel Randall, a veterinarian from South Carolina, USA on behalf of the Full Dimension Ministry volunteer team.