Iraqi policies and epidemiology on dog bites and rabies elimination

Abstract

A stable supply of reliable services, constructive collaboration between veterinary and public health authorities, and comprehensive surveillance are needed to control rabies. In any conditions, but particularly during conflict, these are difficult. The available human rabies surveillance data from Iraq, the results of renewed sampling for animal rabies and the first genetic characterization of Iraqi strains of circulating rabies are listed here. Human rabies is reportable, with cases reported increasing since 2003, and a marked rise between 2009 and 2010 in Baghdad. These developments correlate with the rising number of dog bites that have been reported. There is no laboratory evidence of the characterization of the disease or virus and no formal animal rabies surveillance. Global strategies have been developed by the World Health Organization to eliminate rabies by 2030.