Modelling study finds dog vaccination plus better PEP could cut rabies deaths in Kerala

A modelling study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia reported that scaling up vaccination of owned and free-roaming dogs, alongside improved post-bite treatment and closing gaps in rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), could reduce rabies deaths in Kerala by 83% compared to the current strategy. The study estimated routine childhood pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) would avert about 10 additional deaths over 10 years while increasing healthcare costs by about $10.5 million to $36.5 million.