National programmes for the control of rabies in dogs:

Canine rabies can be eliminated, as has been demonstrated in North America, western Europe, Japan and many areas in South America. During the last two decades, a significant reduction in human rabies associated with dog rabies has been achieved in Mexico, South America and the Caribbean by the programme for the elimination of canine rabies initiated and coordinated by the Pan American Health Organization/WHO Regional Office for the Americas. In contrast, over the past two decades rabies has been increasing in parts of subSaharan Africa and Asia, attributed to rapidly growing dog populations and increasing urbanization, density and mobility of human populations. However, canine rabies is still widespread, occurring in over 80 countries and territories, which are predominantly in the developing world. In more than 99% of all human rabies cases, the virus is transmitted from dogs; half of the global human population lives in canine rabies-endemic areas and is considered at risk of contracting rabies.