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Byrnes H, Britton A, Bhutia T. Eliminating Dog-Mediated Rabies in Sikkim, India: A 10-Year Pathway to Success for the SARAH Program. Front Vet Sci. 2017;4:28doi: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00028.
Byrnes, H., Britton, A., & Bhutia, T. (2017). Eliminating Dog-Mediated Rabies in Sikkim, India: A 10-Year Pathway to Success for the SARAH Program. Frontiers in veterinary science, 428. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00028
Byrnes, Helen, et al. "Eliminating Dog-Mediated Rabies in Sikkim, India: A 10-Year Pathway to Success for the SARAH Program." Frontiers in veterinary science vol. 4 (2017): 28. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2017.00028
Byrnes H, Britton A, Bhutia T. Eliminating Dog-Mediated Rabies in Sikkim, India: A 10-Year Pathway to Success for the SARAH Program. Front Vet Sci. 2017 Mar 15;4:28. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00028. eCollection 2017. PMID: 28361056; PMCID: PMC5350140.
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Front Vet Sci. 2017 Mar 15;4:28. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00028. eCollection 2017.

Eliminating Dog-Mediated Rabies in Sikkim, India: A 10-Year Pathway to Success for the SARAH Program.

Frontiers in veterinary science

Helen Byrnes, Andrea Britton, Thinlay Bhutia

Affiliations

  1. Vets Beyond Borders , Brisbane, QLD , Australia.
  2. Vets Beyond Borders , Melbourne, VIC , Australia.
  3. SARAH Division, Department of Animal Husbandry, Livestock, Fisheries & Animal Health, Government of Sikkim , Gangtok , India.

PMID: 28361056 PMCID: PMC5350140 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00028

Abstract

A third of the world rabies burden is in India. The Sikkim Anti-Rabies and Animal Health (SARAH) program is the first state-wide rabies program in India and demonstrates a successful One Health model of dog-mediated rabies elimination. The SARAH program was created in 2006 as a collaboration between the Government of Sikkim and international non-government organizations-Vets Beyond Borders and Fondation Brigitte Bardot. Activities are directed to canine rabies vaccination, humane dog population control, community education, and treatment of sick and injured animals. In 2005, there were 0.74 human rabies deaths per 100,000 (4 deaths) within Sikkim, and from 2006 to 2015, there were no human rabies deaths. In 2016, two human rabies deaths were reported near the West Bengal border region. From 2005 to 2010, the incidence of animal rabies is unknown; from 2010 to 2016, eight cases of animal rabies were reported. Major challenges for the program are continued commitment to rabies control in the face of 0 to low human rabies incidence and the risk of rabies incursions. Effective intersectoral communication between Health, Veterinary, Forestry, and Police officers is essential to enable rapid response to animal bite incidents and possible rabies incursions. An integrated One Health approach needs to be maintained with enhanced active rabies surveillance. Other states must establish similar programs if India is ever to achieve a goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies.

Keywords: One Health; SARAH program; Sikkim India; animal welfare; dog population management; mass dog vaccination; rabies elimination; surveillance

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