Routine health information system and health facility data for neglected tropical diseases: Rabies
Overview
This guidance was developed based on a template provided to health programmes by the WHO Division of Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact. WHO disease focal points in the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme provided technical content in alignment with the strategic priorities presented in Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021−2030 (“the road map”) and the recommendations included in the Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis decision tree. A drafting team comprising WHO technical officers and disease experts working on rabies at global, regional and country levels contributed to the writing and review of initial drafts of this document. Independent rabies experts reviewed the document for technical accuracy and relevance.
This document mainly addresses the collection and analysis of individual data on the treatment of rabies exposures, including PEP, and rabies cases collected at rabies treatment centres/health facilities. It also offers guidance on using data to assess the risk of exposure when local capacity to assess animals for rabies, and laboratory capacity to test and report results within several days, are available. In certain circumstances, when the risk of rabies is very low, PEP can be delayed pending the outcome of an animal assessment, confinement period or testing, or even be discontinued.
Data not specifically addressed in this document but nonetheless important for successful rabies elimination programmes using a One Health approach are those related to:
- animal follow-up as a result of an integrated bite case management programme;
- rabies cases in animals, dog population and dog vaccination coverage; and
- rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
