Collaborative innovation and synergistic strategies for rabies free zone by using One Health approach in Ladkrabang District, Bangkok, 2015

Abstract

Backgrounds: Rabies was zoonotic disease and was still remaining as a major of public health problem in Thailand regarding to 100% fatal in humans. A situation of human rabies in Bangkok from 1991 to 2015 showed 71 cases, which 69 cases (97.1 8 %) were infected by dogs and most of dogs (53.97%) were strayed dogs. There were 254 positive results for rabies in animal since 2011 and many areas in several districts were reported rabid animals in consecutive years, especially 12 rabid animals in Ladkrabang district. Model development for integrated rabies surveillance in the areas addressing collaborative community by One Health approach needed to be implemented.
Methods: The study was conducted from May to August 2015. Compositions of the study included 1) empower communities to develop their own zoonotic surveillance capacities at household level, 2) integrated and synergized activities between health and livestock officers, 3) improving work environment and strengthening law enforcement and 4) created efficient report both in intra-organizational and inter-organizational network.
Results: After implementation, various outcomes were observed. There was more efficient data sharing among network, show data from October 1 to July 9, 2015 that rabies positive results were found in 17 dogs (one in Ladkrabang district) and one cat. However, no human rabies case was found. Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis was given to a risk group (377 persons) and a percent had been increased in the number of people requesting preexposure prophylaxis from 56% to 91%. A service animal registry by community leaders was done in a total of 14,134 registered animals (8,794 dogs, 5,213 cats and 127 others). A total of 12,096 animals was vaccinated and rabies vaccination coverage in domestic animals was increased from 25.00% to 85.58%, more animal shelters and rescues were built by a cooperation with the communities (from two to nine shelters). Animal sterilization by mobile units were allocated in the communities to control populations. And the rabies quarantine for animals in both exposed group to rabies and animal suspected of having rabies was set.
Conclusion: Community participation in disease surveillance was a key to success. Finally, there was no found rabies in animal and human since the study was implemented.