Heterogeneity in the spread and control of infectious disease: consequences for the elimination of canine rabies.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the factors influencing vaccination campaign effectiveness is vital in designing efficient disease elimination programmes. We investigated the importance of spatial heterogeneity in vaccination coverage and human-mediated dog movements for the elimination of endemic canine rabies by mass dog vaccination in Region VI of the Philippines (Western Visayas). Household survey data was used to parameterise a spatially-explicit rabies transmission model with realistic dog movement and vaccination coverage scenarios, assuming a basic reproduction number for rabies drawn from the literature. This showed that heterogeneous vaccination reduces elimination prospects relative to homogeneous vaccination at the same overall level. Had the three vaccination campaigns completed in Region VI in

SUBMITTER: Ferguson EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4678884 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature