TY - JOUR
T1 - Rabies in Myanmar
T2 - Prevalent, preventable but not prioritized
AU - Mu, Thet Thet
AU - Sein, Aye Aye
AU - Soe, Chit
AU - Aung, Nan Phyu Phyu
AU - Kyi, Tint Tint
AU - Hanson, Josh
PY - 2017/10
Y1 - 2017/10
N2 - Despite the availability of proven measures to prevent the disease, rabies now kills more people in Myanmar than malaria. Although there are challenges in controlling rabies in such a large and culturally diverse country, Myanmar's successful National Malaria Control Program demonstrates what can be achieved with sufficient political, financial, and scientific commitment. Presently, however, Myanmar lacks a comparable program to coordinate the multifaceted approach that is necessary to control rabies. The national government has invested heavily in improving access to post exposure prophylaxis, but there should also be an emphasis on other, more cost-effective strategies, particularly mass canine vaccination, which has been an essential component of successful rabies elimination programs in other countries. Continued health system strengthening is also required to improve primary health care, while decentralization of laboratory diagnostic services is needed to facilitate more timely, rational, and cost-effective use of post exposure prophylaxis.
AB - Despite the availability of proven measures to prevent the disease, rabies now kills more people in Myanmar than malaria. Although there are challenges in controlling rabies in such a large and culturally diverse country, Myanmar's successful National Malaria Control Program demonstrates what can be achieved with sufficient political, financial, and scientific commitment. Presently, however, Myanmar lacks a comparable program to coordinate the multifaceted approach that is necessary to control rabies. The national government has invested heavily in improving access to post exposure prophylaxis, but there should also be an emphasis on other, more cost-effective strategies, particularly mass canine vaccination, which has been an essential component of successful rabies elimination programs in other countries. Continued health system strengthening is also required to improve primary health care, while decentralization of laboratory diagnostic services is needed to facilitate more timely, rational, and cost-effective use of post exposure prophylaxis.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85031687045&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0198
DO - 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0198
M3 - Article
C2 - 28722601
AN - SCOPUS:85031687045
VL - 97
SP - 989
EP - 991
JO - The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
JF - The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
SN - 0002-9637
IS - 4
ER -