Rabies

Rabies Vaccine Airdrop Flights Launch in Texas in 2025

Karen McClorey Hackett — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 21:12:35 +0000

Reviewer:

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) today announced the launching of the annual Oral Rabies Vaccination Program (ORVP) bait drop for animals on January 7, 2024.

The OVRP program for 2025 includes additional bait distribution areas in far West Texas, parts of El Paso County, and other counties bordering New Mexico. The geographic expansion is in response to a new Arizona fox rabies virus variant that has moved east and been confirmed in Sierra County, New Mexico.

ORVP is in its 31st year and has proven an effective defense against the spread of domestic dog/coyote rabies and the Texas gray fox variants.

Two rabies epizootics (large disease outbreaks in animals) involving coyotes and gray foxes began in 1988. The outbreaks involved the Texas fox rabies virus variant in gray fox populations in west/west-central Texas and the domestic dog-coyote rabies virus variant in coyote populations in south Texas.

No human rabies cases attributable to these variants have been identified since ORVP began.

"Texas has eliminated two canid rabies variants by using the Oral Rabies Vaccination Program," commented Kathy Parker, DSHS ORVP Director, in a press release on January 3, 2024.

"By moving the program to include far now West Texas, DSHS strives to protect the people and animals in that area."

Throughout the U.S., bites from bats, not dogs, cause most rabies infections in people.

During 2024, there were rabies-related fatalities reported by a resident of northern Kentucky and one in Merced County, California.

The oral rabies vaccines, enclosed in small, plastic packets that resemble fast-food ketchup packages, are dipped in fish oil and coated with fish-meal crumbles to attract targeted wildlife. They do not pose a threat to pets or other non-canine wildlife.

Before the rabies vaccination program began, Texas had experienced human deaths due to canine rabies, and many people had to receive postexposure rabies treatment following infection.

The first ORVP bait drop was held in 1995 in South Texas. In 1994, before the first airdrop, Texas had 122 animal cases of the domestic dog/coyote rabies variant.

The first vaccine airdrop targeting the fox variant was conducted in 1996 in West and Central Texas. There were 244 animal cases from this variant in 1995, but that dropped to zero cases by May 2009. A case of fox variant rabies was identified in a cow in 2013.

Still, no additional gray fox variant cases have been identified in Texas following expanded bait distribution in the following three years.

The annual project costs approximately $2.3 million and is funded by the State of Texas and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services.

Rabies is a viral infection that causes brain and spinal cord inflammation. Globally, rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease found in more than 150 countries and territories, according to the World Health Organization.

Various rabies vaccines for people are available in 2025. In the U.S., Bavarian Nordic's RabAvert® vaccine is offered to people.

Sub Title:

West Texas Included in Oral Rabies Vaccination Program for Animals

References:

Texas DSHS’s Oral Rabies Vaccination Program expands bait distribution area

Texas ORVP project is at the national forefront of rabies control in terrestrial wildlife reservoirs

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Potential Rabies Exposure at Chicago's Salt Shed

Donald Hackett — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 15:18:44 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently announced it is alerting the public to a bat exposure at the Goose concert at the Salt Shed, Chicago, IL, and that additional attendees may have been exposed to the rabies virus.

If you attended the concert but did not encounter a bat, you need not take any further action, as a bat flying above you is not a risk for rabies.

While certain bats are more commonly diagnosed with rabies, all bat species are susceptible to carrying the rabies virus, including in the Chicago area.

According to CDPH's press release on October 4, 2024, if you attended the concert, were bitten or scratched by a bat, or had direct contact with one, contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible to discuss rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. This prevention consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin and four doses of vaccine, which are highly effective in preventing rabies.

Rabies is a progressive encephalomyelitis disease caused by the rabies virus and can be fatal, says the U.S. CDC.

In the U.S., around 4,000 animal rabies cases are reported each year. While rabies is found in several wildlife species, the U.S. has been free of dog rabies since 2007.

For example, the Minnesota Department of Health recently confirmed rabies death in a person who had exposure to a bat in western Minnesota in July 2024—this is Minnesota's fourth case of human rabies since 2000.

And a resident of Ontario, Canada, was also recently confirmed with bat-bite transmitted rabies. There have been 26 human rabies cases in Canada since 1924.

Globally, the World Health Organization reports rabies fatalities by country.

As of 2024, three WHO pre-qualified human rabies vaccines protect people against rabies: nerve tissue and cell culture vaccines. In the U.S., various rabies vaccines are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies.

Sub Title:

Bats spread rabies in Chicago, Ontario, Minneapolis in 2024

Reference:

Possible exposure may have occurred on September 12, 2024

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avmajournals.avma.org 2021

Dog Importation Rules Clarified by the U.S. CDC

Donald Hackett — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 20:07:26 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a media statement with an updated process for bringing dogs into the United States from rabies-free and low-risk dog rabies countries to simplify and clarify the procedures.

Announced on July 22, 2024, these updates reflect feedback from the public, industry partners, and various countries and aim to prevent the re-introduction of dog rabies to the U.S. while protecting the health of U.S. communities and animals, wrote the CDC.

Starting in August 2024, dogs that have spent the prior six months only in dog rabies-free or low-risk rabies countries can enter the U.S. with a CDC Import Form online submission receipt as acceptable documentation.

This form can be completed on the day of travel, and the receipt can be presented to airlines and border officials as a printed copy or on the phone. The receipt is valid for travel into the U.S. for six months from the date of issuance and allows for multiple entries.

Furthermore, all dogs entering the U.S. must have a microchip and be over six months of age.

Additional documents and requirements will still apply to dogs coming from high-risk countries. For more information and updates, visit www.cdc.gov/dogtravel.

While infected dogs are the leading source of rabies worldwide, bats infect most humans with rabies in the U.S.

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease in 2024. People can be protected from rabies with various vaccines.

Sub Title:

Rabies is a vaccine preventable disease in 2024

Reference:

CDC Updates Dog Importation Process

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DogBot Explains Which Dogs Can Fly to the United States

Donald Hackett — Thu, 09 May 2024 14:02:51 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

While rabies was officially eliminated in dogs in the United States in 2007, unvaccinated canines can still contract the deadly disease from rabid wildlife, including bats.

If you plan on bringing a dog into the U.S. this summer, new rules from the government may impact your plans.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on May 8, 2024, new dog importation rules will be implemented in August 2024.

The CDC stated that international travelers should use the DogBot to determine which rules are applicable based on the travel dates and where their dog travels.

These rules apply to all dogs, including puppies, service animals, and dogs that left the U.S. and are returning. They also apply whether you are a U.S. citizen, legal U.S. resident, or foreign national.

If you don't follow the CDC's new rules, your dog will not be allowed to enter the U.S.

According to the CDC, if a country or political unit is not listed, it is not classified as high risk for importing dog rabies into the United States. Therefore, if the country is not listed, the CDC strongly recommends vaccinating against rabies. However, the additional requirements for dogs from high-risk countries to enter the United States do not apply.

To learn how these rules apply to your dog, please visit the "Bringing a Dog into the United States" website.

Previously, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration advised how pets should be brought through airport security checkpoints.

Over the past few years, bats have become the leading source of rabies in people in over 40 U.S. states. The CDC says about 1-3 rabies cases are confirmed annually.

However, about 60,000 Americans get post-exposure prophylaxis each year to prevent rabies infection after being bitten or scratched by an infected or suspected infected animal.

Various rabies vaccines have been U.S. FDA-approved for decades. However, a next-generation rabies vaccine could soon replace current options.

In April 2024, YS Biopharma Co., Ltd. announced positive results from the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial of its PIKA Rabies Vaccine.

This vaccine can potentially meet the goal of a one-week regimen to replace the conventional three- or four-week regimens.

PIKA was granted U.S. FDA orphan drug designation for prevention of rabies virus infection, including post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies.

Sub Title:

Pika Rabies vaccine candidate targets one-week human rabies regimen

References:

CDC: Bringing a Dog into the United States

CDC: What Your Dog Needs to Enter the US

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30th Oral Rabies Vaccination Air-Drop Program Launches in South Texas

Donald Hackett — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:20:49 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

January 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the Oral Rabies Vaccination Program (ORVP) in South Texas, which has successfully controlled and prevented domestic dog / coyote variant rabies and gray fox variant rabies infections among wildlife, livestock, and people.

No human rabies cases have been attributable to any of these variants in Texas since the ORVP began.

Texas Department of State Health Services’ airdrop flights launched on January 9, 2024, from Edinburg in Hidalgo County, distributing rabies vaccine baits over 18 border counties.

This year’s ORVP is expected to last two weeks, with additional flights launching from Del Rio and Alpine, Texas. Four aircraft and one helicopter will be deployed for the drop, with 8-16 flights likely per day at 500 to 1,000 feet above the ground.

Vaccine baits are dropped at half-mile intervals, and more than 820,000 oral vaccine rabies baits will be dropped at 64-70 baits per square mile.

The bait, which resembles a fast-food ketchup package, includes a vaccine wrapped in a plastic packet dipped in fish oil and coated with fish-meal crumbles to attract target wildlife.

The vaccine has been proven safe for more than 60 species of mammals and birds. The vaccine will not hurt pets or livestock if they consume one of the vaccine baits.

“Our goal is to vaccinate coyotes and gray foxes along the border to maintain herd immunity against rabies and keep new or previously eliminated rabies variants from becoming established in Texas,” commented Kathy Parker, ORVP project director, in a press release.

Before the ORVP, there had been human deaths in Texas due to canine rabies, and many people in the epizootic area had to receive postexposure rabies treatment.

Anyone finding one of the vaccine baits is encouraged to leave it alone, as wildlife can smell the human scent. People should wash their hands with soap and water if they have skin contact with the liquid portion (vaccine).

If you have an immunocompromising health condition, please inform your family physician immediately about your contact with a live vaccine. Contact with a vaccine bait should also be reported to the Zoonosis Control Branch by calling 1-877-722-6725.

The program costs approximately $2 million and is funded by the State of Texas and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

As of January 10, 2024, various rabies vaccines are available for people in Texas.

Sub Title:

Oral Rabies Vaccination Program controls dog, coyote, gray fox variant rabies in Texas

References:

Texas DSHS’s Annual Oral Rabies Vaccine Bait Airdrop Marks 30 Years

Texas Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Branch

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Texas DSHS rabies vaccine drop zone map Jan. 2024

Vaccine Hesitancy Impacts Dogs Too

Karen McClorey Hackett — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 14:27:03 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

A new study from the Boston University (BU) School of Public Health found that 53% of dog owners expressed some Canine vaccine hesitancy (CVH) about protecting their pets from disease.

This study highlights real-world concerns, as about 45% of US households own a dog.

Pre-published in August, this September 22, 2023 analysis considers the prevalence of CVH among dog owners. As Table 3 demonstrates, a significant minority of dog owners consider vaccines administered to dogs to be unsafe (37%), ineffective (22%), and/or unnecessary (30%).

About 37% of dog owners also believed that canine vaccination could cause their dogs to develop autism, even though no scientific data validates this risk for animals.

Furthermore, these researchers found that CVH is associated with rabies non-vaccination.

In the United States (U.S.), stray dog control programs initiated in the 1940s, combined with routine rabies vaccination of owned dogs, eliminated the canine rabies virus variant from circulation by 2008.

“The vaccine spillover effects that we document in our research underscore the importance of restoring trust in human vaccine safety and efficacy,” says study lead author Matt Motta, an SPH assistant professor of health law, policy, and management, in a BU press release on September 7, 2023.

“If non-vaccination were to become more common, our pets, vets, and even our friends and family risk coming into contact with vaccine-preventable diseases.”

The American Animal Hospital Association calls vaccinations “a cornerstone of canine preventive healthcare” and recommends that qualifying dogs receive a core set of vaccines for rabies, distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza, and advises that many dogs receive additional non-core vaccinations such as for Lyme disease and Bordetella.

In the U.S., the CDC issues regulations to control the entry of dogs from other countries.

The CDC recently extended its temporary suspension of dog importation from high-risk dog rabies countries until July 31, 2024. This suspension includes dogs arriving from countries without a high risk of rabies if the dogs have been in a high-risk country in the past six months.

Sub Title:

Rabies vaccines approved for dogs in 2023

References:

The prevalence, politicization, and health policy consequences of canine vaccine hesitancy

Dog Owners Are Hesitant to Vaccinate Their Pets

2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines

Bringing a Dog into the United States - CDC

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U.S. CDC dog rabies 2023

Dog Bites Can Be Deadly Too

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 14:41:45 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

While most people assume most rabies deaths are a result of a dog bit, bats are actually the leading cause of rabies deaths in people in the United States.

Rabies can spread to people from bats after minor, seemingly unimportant, or unrecognized bites or scratches.

Exposure to rabid bats is the leading cause of rabies in humans in the U.S., accounting for 70% of people who become infected, reported the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

However, dog bites are causing increasing deaths in the U.S.

According to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Quick Stats announced on September 8, 2023, from 2011–2021, a total of 468 deaths from being bitten or struck by a dog occurred.

Recently, more deaths occurred among females than among males.

From 2018 to 2021, deaths more than doubled for males (15 to 37) and females (20 to 44).

Victims of severe dog attacks often suffer acute damage, which may require expensive specialized medical care treatment, says DogBites.org.

Reconstructive surgery, such as skin grafts, tissue expansion, and scar diminishment, often requires multiple procedures over the years.

Furthermore, various medical studies show that pit bulls inflict most of these damaging attacks.

Despite evidence that animal vaccination programs and eliminating stray dogs have reduced the incidence of human rabies, dog rabies remains common in many countries.

Furthermore, exposure to rabid dogs is still the cause of 99% of human rabies deaths worldwide.

Because vaccines to prevent human rabies have been available for more than 100 years, most deaths from rabies occur in countries with inadequate public health resources and limited access to preventive treatment.

Scientists have shown that once 70% of dogs are vaccinated, rabies can be successfully controlled in an area, and human deaths can be prevented.

In even the most prosperous countries, the cost of an effective dog rabies control program is high.

For example, the estimated annual expenditure for rabies prevention in the United States is over US$300 million, most of which is spent on dog vaccinations.

And the annual turnover of approximately 25% in the dog population necessitates the revaccination of millions of animals each year, says the CDC.

Sub Title:

Bats lead rabies deaths in the United States

References:

Number of Deaths Resulting from Being Bitten or Struck by a Dog,* by Sex — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2011

National Center for Health Statistics

US CDC - Bats

Dog Bite studies

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National Vital Statistics System, Mortality Data, 2011–2021

Rabid Dogs Reported in Haiti

Don Hackett — Wed, 18 May 2022 14:47:37 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

According to a recent U.S. CDC announcement, the Caribbean country of Haiti has been confronted again with an outbreak of dogs infected with the rabies virus.

The CDC issued a Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions alert to international travelers of their potential health risks on May 5, 2022.

The CDC says ‘To prevent contracting rabies while in Haiti, travelers should avoid all contact with dogs and cats. Rabid dogs may be infectious for several days before showing signs of rabies.’

And seek immediate medical attention for any animal bite or scratch that may occur during your visit.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects mammals' central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). According to the CDC, it is mainly spread through bites and scratches from infected animals such as dogs, cats, bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.

In 2021, the CDC banned the importation of dogs from certain at-risk countries.

However, bats are the common source of rabies infections in the USA, not dogs.

In 2018, 54 U.S. jurisdictions reported 4,951 cases of rabies in animals and three cases in humans to the CDC.

In early March 2022, Garrett County Health Department in California reported the first case of laboratory-confirmed rabies in the USA. This case occurred in the Oakland Deep Creek Lake area and involved a gray fox attacking a person.

French scientist Louis Pasteur discovered the first successful vaccine for rabies in the late 1800s.

Today, two interchangeable rabies vaccines are U.S. FDA licensed and available in the U.S. Both vaccines contain inactivated rabies virus.

The HDCV vaccine (Imovax, Sanofi Pasteur) is produced in human diploid cell culture. And the PCECV vaccine (RabAvert, Novartis) is produced in chick embryo cell culture. Both types are considered equally safe and effective.

The primary vaccination with either type of rabies vaccine consists of three deltoid intramuscular doses and one daily injection on days 0, 7, and 21 or 28.

And a booster dose is suggested as often as every six months to two years for persons at the highest risk for exposure to the rabies virus.

Vax-Before-Travel publishes fact-checked research-based travel vaccine news.

Sub Title:

Bats not dogs cause most rabies infections in the USA

References:

CDC: Rabies in Haiti

CDC: World Rabies Day

CDC: Is Rabies in your state?

Rabies Vaccination Clinics

Haiti Launches Extensive Rabies Vaccination Program For Dogs

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Rabies Immunoglobulin Treatment Found Safe and Effective

Don Hackett — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 15:09:36 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Danielle Reiter, RN

An existing rabies treatment, known as KEDRAB, was found by researchers to be safe and effective for patients age 17 and under.

Published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics on February 9, 2021, these researchers report the first and only pediatric trial of any human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) currently available in the USA.

According to the U.S. CDC, someone is treated for possible exposure to rabies every 10 minutes, and once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal, said these researchers.

The current treatment for previously unvaccinated people exposed to rabies is called rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

This treatment includes wound washing, passive neutralization of the virus with infiltration of HRIG into and around the wound site.

Followed by a series of 4 doses of rabies vaccine given over a 2-week timeframe.

And in this latest study carried out by a team of international experts from the USA and Israel, KEDRAB® (HRIG150) has become the first HRIG shown to be safe and effective in children when administered promptly and correctly, as part of the rabies PEP process.

"Despite the large proportion of pediatric cases, limited safety and efficacy data had previously existed for use in pediatric patients," says senior author Dr. James Linakis, from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

"Evidence from this KEDRAB US Pediatric Trial confirms that this product addresses an unmet need in children who may have been exposed to rabies, and gives healthcare providers confidence when preventing this deadly condition in countless numbers of young patients across the US," says lead author Dr. Nicholas Hobart-Porter, Pediatric Emergency Physician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital.

The study looked at a group of 30 trial participants, with suspected or confirmed rabies exposure, over 84 days (as to include a 3-month follow-up). Each participant received PEP. KEDRAB was infiltrated into and around detectable wound site(s) and/or given intramuscularly along with the first of a 4-dose series of rabies vaccine.

Although the study did not include a placebo control group, placebo treatment of exposed patients is ethically unacceptable due to the near 100% fatality rate of rabies.

No participant showed an active rabies infection at any point, and there were no deaths and no serious adverse events.

While 70% of participants experienced some form of unrelated or related side effect, all of these were mild.

"The study not only confirms the safety and efficacy of KEDRAB but also that KEDRAB could be well tolerated by all patients who participated in this trial," says Novinyo Serge Amega, M.D., head of US Medical Affairs at Kedrion Biopharma.

"It was the first and only pediatric study of any HRIG available in the United States and, as such, may provide a healthy degree of reassurance for physicians and others who treat children exposed to rabies."

In the US, rabies in humans is extremely rare, with around two deaths on average per year, says the CDC.

The low incidence of human rabies in the US can be attributed to successful pet vaccination and animal control programs, public health surveillance and testing, and availability of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for rabies.

It is important to note that KEDRAB is not licensed outside the United States. Therefore, the authors cannot connect to its use in other nations. PEP’s availability, accessibility, and affordability in developing countries remain a significant component of rabies’ global burden.

Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that rabies causes 59,000 human deaths annually in over 150 countries, with 95% of cases occurring in Africa and Asia.

The WHO also says that 40% of the global rabies disease burden occurs in children under 15 years of age and that most encounters of the disease follow a dog bite.

Kamada Ltd. and Kedrion Biopharma Inc provided research funding.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes research-based vaccine news.

Sub Title:

KEDRAB is a human rabies immunoglobulin indicated for passive, transient post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infection

References:

Safety and efficacy of rabies immunoglobulin in pediatric patients with suspected exposure

FDA: Kedrab

KEDRAB

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Low-Dose Rabies Vaccine Found Effective

Don Hackett — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 17:56:50 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Danielle Reiter, RN

A Germany and Massachusetts based biopharmaceutical company announced positive data from its Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating CV7202, a novel prophylactic mRNA-based rabies vaccine.

In this small study, all of the subjects who received 2-doses of 1 µg mRNA vaccine, the lowest dose tested, demonstrated a strong adaptive immune response with protective virus-neutralizing antibody titers levels above the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The CV7202 clinical trial is based on CureVac’s naturally optimized mRNA technology using a latest-generation lipid nanoparticle (LNP). The phase 1, dose-escalation, open-label clinical study in healthy adult volunteers is currently ongoing in Germany and Belgium.

The primary objective of the study is the assessment of safety and reactogenicity, while secondary objectives evaluate the quantitative and qualitative immune response.

“These results exceed our expectations and demonstrate the power and potential of our mRNA technology,” said Daniel L. Menichella, Chief Executive Officer of CureVac AG, in a press release published on January 7, 2020.

Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation in the brain, is almost always fatal following the onset of clinical symptoms, says the WHO.

The infection is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths every year, mostly occurring in Asia and Africa.

To better address, this serious health risk, the WHO, the World Organization for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control announced a global “United Against Rabies” collaboration with the goal of achieving "zero human rabies deaths by 2030", on September 28, 2019.

Although human deaths from rabies are now rare in the USA, each year interactions with suspect animals result in the need to observe or test hundreds of thousands of animals and to administer rabies postexposure prophylaxis to 30,000 to 60,000 persons, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Bats are responsible for about 70 percent of rabies deaths among people who are infected with the rabies virus in the USA. But, when traveling abroad, rabid dogs are a leading cause of rabies cases in Americans, says the CDC.

There are 2 interchangeable, safe, rabies vaccines available in the USA. Both vaccines contain inactivated rabies virus:

HDCV vaccine (Imovax) produced in human diploid cell culture.
PCECV vaccine (RabAvert) is produced in chick embryo cell culture.

CureVac AG is a leading clinical-stage company in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology with 20 years of expertise in developing and optimizing this versatile molecule for medical purposes. For more information, please visit Curevac.

Rabies vaccine news is published by Precision Vaccinations.

Sub Title:

CureVac CV7202 is a novel prophylactic mRNA-based rabies vaccine

References:

CureVac Announces Positive Results in Low Dose – 1 µg – Rabies Vaccine Clinical Phase 1 Study

A Study to Assess the Safety, Reactogenicity and Immune Response of CureVac's Candidate Rabies mRNA Vaccine in Healthy Adults

WHO: ‘United Against Rabies’ collaboration celebrates one year of progress towards zero human rabies deaths by 2030

1 To 2 Shot Rabies Vaccine Candidate Launches Clinical Study

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Haiti Launches Extensive Rabies Vaccination Program For Dogs

Danielle Reiter RN — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 13:37:43 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Holly Lutmer PharmD

A vaccination campaign has been launched in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to accelerate action towards eliminating human rabies transmitted by dogs.

Teams of trained vaccinators will be working throughout Haiti, targeting both street dogs and household pets, said a Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) press release published on December 16, 2019.

Approximately 600,000 dogs will be vaccinated between December 9 - 21, 2019, which represents the estimated canine population in Haiti.

The rabies prevention vaccination campaign is led by the PAHO in Haiti with the Pan-American Center for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development and with financial support from the World Bank.

Human rabies transmitted by dogs is one of the priorities of the PAHO Elimination Initiative which aims to eliminate several communicable diseases and related conditions.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 36 percent of the world’s rabies deaths occur in India each year, most of those when children come into contact with infected dogs.

Rabies vaccine news

“Vaccinating dogs is essential to breaking the cycle of transmission of the disease to humans. The success of this campaign will ensure the reduction of cases in Haiti and bring us one step closer to eliminating the disease in the Americas, as Haiti is one of the last countries where there are registered cases,” said Ottorino Cosivi, Director of PANAFTOSA, in a press release.

Rabies causes 60 thousand deaths each year, mainly in Asia and Africa. In Latin America and the Caribbean, new cases of rabies were reduced by more than 95 percent in humans, reports the PAHO.

“Given the delicate context in Haiti, getting this campaign up and running has presented us with some huge challenges,” said Luis Felipe Codina, PAHO/WHO Representative in Haiti.

Recent Haiti vaccine news

“Thanks, however, to political will, the efforts of the PAHO/WHO country team, the Ministry of Agriculture and PANAFTOSA, we are confident that these actions will lead to great outcomes for the Haitian people and will contribute to the elimination of human rabies transmitted by dogs,” Codina added.

A mass communication campaign has also been launched on radio, social media, and in public places to encourage members of the public to get involved and to raise awareness of the need to eliminate human rabies transmitted by dogs.

Haiti has a population exceeding 10 million residents and is a Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic to its east. And, Haiti welcomed almost 1.3 million tourists in 2017.

The rabies vaccine is given to people at high risk of rabies to protect them if they are exposed. It can also prevent the disease if it is given to a person after they have been exposed.

There are 2 interchangeable, equally safe, rabies vaccines available in the USA. Both vaccines contain inactivated rabies virus:

HDCV vaccine (Imovax) is produced in human diploid cell culture.
PCECV vaccine (RabAvert) is produced in chick embryo cell culture. Both types are considered as equally safe and effective.

From an overall health perspective, the CDC updated its travel guidance when visiting Haiti, on August 2, 2019. The CDC says to ensure you are up-to-date on several Routine Vaccines before visiting Haiti.

This recommendation includes a measles vaccination since Haiti was listed in the CDC’s Global Measles Outbreak Notice published on June 10, 2019.

Additionally, the CDC suggests these travel vaccinations when visiting Haiti: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid.

The CDC also included Haiti in the October 3, 2019 Dengue Fever alert. And, the CDC says ‘active cholera transmission is widespread in Haiti, and vaccination may be considered for adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission.’

And, the Public Health Agency of Canada issued advice for travelers on the Zika virus, saying pregnant women and those considering becoming pregnant should avoid travel to Haiti.

Travel vaccine information for Haiti is published by Vax-Before-Travel

Sub Title:

Bats not dogs are responsible for the majority of human rabies virus deaths in the USA

References:

Rabies Elimination in Haiti: Dog vaccination campaign launched

CDC: Bats Lead in US Rabies Risk

CDC: Human Rabies Surveillance

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India’s Rabies Vaccine Shortages May Be Gone Forever

Danielle Reiter RN — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 21:40:52 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Following concerns of dwindling anti-rabies vaccines, the relaunch of the Rabipur vaccine is expected to eliminate potential shortages of this life-saving vaccine.

Now named ChiroRab, it was relaunched on November 13, 2019, by Chiron Behring Vaccines, part of Bharat Biotech International Ltd.

ChiroRab is a purified chick embryo cell anti-rabies vaccine. It has been evaluated in over 25 controlled clinical trials in various countries and in more than 7,000 subjects, said Bharat Biotech, in an Economic Times news article.

An ongoing phase 3 clinical study was last updated on October 4, 2019.

“In our ongoing commitment to address the supply shortages of rabies vaccine, we are making additional investments to increase production capacities to over 15 million doses annually,” said Dr. Krishna Ella, CMD, Bharat Biotech.

This is important news since rabies is a serious disease caused by a virus. Humans get this virus when bitten by infected animals, such as dogs or bats.

The rabies virus causes about 40,000 – 70,000 fatalities each year.

"The launch of the vaccine is 'very timely' for a country like India,” said Dr. Renu Swarup, secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

“With this kind of capacity enhancement, I am sure that the shortage of rabies vaccine would be addressed through this venture,” Dr. Swarup said.

Previously, the Indian states of Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur were reported to face vaccine shortages.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 36 percent of the world’s rabies deaths occur in India each year, most of those when children come into contact with infected dogs.

WHO experts say that the main constraint to rabies elimination in India is the lack of coordination and the lack of a comprehensive national program.

They agree that since India shares borders with 6 countries that are all rabies endemic, it is essential that India’s rabies control efforts are coordinated regionally.

Other Asian countries, such as Sri Lanka and Thailand, have made progress by taking a nationally coordinated approach, says the WHO.

Recent rabies vaccine news

November 3, 2019 – Israel and New Jersey-based companies announced the results of their Phase 2/3 study for KEDRAB®, a human Rabies Immune Globulin. In a press release on October 29, 2019, Kamada Ltd. and Kedrion Biopharma said the 2017 U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of KEDRAB for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against rabies infection was based on the results of this study, which demonstrated that KEDRAB was non-inferior to the comparator HRIG product.
October 30, 2018 – A small, dose-escalation Phase I clinical trial with the novel mRNA-based rabies vaccine, CV7202 has launched in Germany. This is the 1st in human study of CureVac AG’s naturally optimized mRNA technology delivered using a lipid nanoparticle, tailored to provide the vaccine with a strong, safe and persistent immune response.

The rabies vaccine is given to people at high risk of rabies to protect them if they are exposed. It can also prevent the disease if it is given to a person after they have been exposed.

The rabies vaccine should be administered under 2 situations.

1. The preventive vaccination schedule for rabies is 3 doses:

People at high risk of exposure to rabies, such as veterinarians, animal handlers, rabies laboratory workers, spelunkers, and rabies biologics production workers should be offered rabies vaccine.
People whose activities bring them into frequent contact with rabies virus or with possibly rabid animals.
International travelers who are likely to come in contact with animals in parts of the world where rabies is common.

2. Vaccination after rabies exposure:

Anyone who has been bitten by an animal, or who otherwise may have been exposed to rabies, should clean the wound and see a doctor immediately. The doctor will determine if they need to be vaccinated.
A person who is exposed and has never been vaccinated against rabies should get 4 doses of rabies vaccine – one dose right away, and additional doses on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days. They should also get another shot called Rabies Immune Globulin at the same time as the first dose.
A person who has been previously vaccinated should get 2 doses of rabies vaccine – one right away and another on the 3rd day. Rabies Immune Globulin is not needed.

There are 2 interchangeable, equally safe, rabies vaccines available in the USA. Both vaccines contain inactivated rabies virus.

HDCV vaccine (Imovax) is produced in human diploid cell culture.
PCECV vaccine (RabAvert) is produced in chick embryo cell culture. Both types are considered equally safe and effective.

Any vaccine can cause side effects, which should be reported to a healthcare provider asap.

Rabies vaccine news published by Vax-Before-Travel

Sub Title:

Rabies vaccine Rabipur is now marketed as ChiroRab by Chiron Behring Vaccines, part of Bharat Biotech International Ltd.

References:

A Clinical Study to Evaluate Immune Responses to Rabies Vaccine in Adults Who Received Different Primary Rabies Vaccination

30 years of rabies vaccination with Rabipur: a summary of clinical data and global experience

Bharat Biotech's subsidiary Chiron Behring launches anti-rabies vaccine Read more at: //economictimes.indiatimes.com/articlesho

Indian firm relaunches anti-rabies vaccine

WHO: India’s ongoing war against rabies

CDC: Rabies Vaccine

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Rabies Immune Globulin Reports Positive Study Results

Don Hackett — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 23:20:08 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Danielle Reiter, RN

John Paul Sanchez, PharmD

Israel and New Jersey-based companies announced the results of their Phase 2/3 study for KEDRAB®, a human Rabies Immune Globulin.

In a press release on October 29, 2019, Kamada Ltd. and Kedrion Biopharma said the 2017 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of KEDRAB for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against rabies infection was based on the results of this study, which demonstrated that KEDRAB was non-inferior to the comparator HRIG product.

KEDRAB achieved Rabies Virus Neutralizing Antibody (RVNA) levels of ≥0.5 IU/mL on day 14 when each was co-administered with a rabies vaccine.

Additionally, KEDRAB was found to be well-tolerated during this study with a safety profile similar to that of the comparator HRIG product.

This is good news since there are only 2 licensed rabies immunoglobulin products available in the USA prior to the approval of KEDRAB.

“We are gratified that these important study results have now been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics,” said Amir London, Chief Executive Officer of Kamada, in this press release.

Furthermore, Kedrion and Kamada have recently completed the enrollment of 30 pediatric subjects in an FDA-required post-marketing trial in the U.S. with the primary objective of confirming the safety of KEDRAB in children aged 0 to 17 years.

The results of this study are expected in the second half of 2020.

Novinyo Amega, M.D., Kedrion Biopharma’s Head of U.S. Medical Affairs, added, “This trial, which is the first of its kind in this country, will expand on the data and research regarding safety and efficacy of HRIG in the pediatric population.”

KEDRAB [Rabies Immune Globulin (Human)] is a human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) indicated for passive, transient post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of rabies infection when given promptly after contact with a rabid or possibly rabid animal. KEDRAB should be administered concurrently with a full course of rabies vaccine.

The most frequent side events in subjects treated with KEDRAB in clinical trials were injection site pain, headache, muscle pain, and upper respiratory tract infection.

According to the World Health Organization, about 40 percent of exposures to suspect rabid animals occur in children under 15 years of age. But, there is currently very limited data on the safety and efficacy of any HRIG product in children.

Rabies is one of the oldest described infectious diseases, known for over 5,000 years. Rabies is a preventable, viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.

Rabies is serious, and nearly always fatal, infection.

In the USA, rabies in wild animals, especially raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, accounts for most cases of rabies passed on to humans, pets, and other domestic animals. An acute, progressive viral encephalomyelitis, rabies carries the highest case fatality rate of any conventional etiological agent.

Bats are responsible for about 70 percent of rabies deaths among people who are infected with the rabies virus in the USA, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But, when traveling abroad, rabid dogs are a leading cause of rabies cases.

Rabies vaccine news

KEDRAB is marketed in the U.S. by Kedrion, which completed a successful launch of the product in the U.S. in 2018. Kedrion Biopharma is a leading international biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the development, production, and distribution of plasma-derived therapeutic products for use in treating serious diseases, disorders, and conditions such as immune system deficiencies and coagulation disorders.

Kamada Ltd. is focused on plasma-derived protein therapeutics for orphan indications and has a commercial product portfolio and a late-stage product pipeline.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Kedrion Biopharma Inc. Customer Service (1-855-353-7466) in the United States.

Rabies Vaccine News published by Precision Vaccinations

Sub Title:

KEDRAB is a human rabies immunoglobulin which should be administered concurrently with a full course of rabies vaccine

References:

Safety and efficacy results of simulated post-exposure prophylaxis with human immune globulin (HRIG; KEDRAB) co-administered

Kamada and Kedrion Biopharma Announce Publication of Results from the Registration Study of KEDRAB in Human Vaccines & Immunothe

Phase II/III Study of the Safety and Effectiveness of HRIG With Co-administration of Active Rabies Vaccine in Healthy Subjects

Post-marketing Study of KamRAB Administered as a Single Dose With Active Rabies Vaccine in Children Exposed to Rabies

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Fake Rabies Vaccines Found in the Philippines Again

Danielle Reiter RN — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 14:59:57 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Health officials issued a Medical Product Alert regarding 3 different falsified rabies vaccines and 1 falsified anti-rabies serum currently circulating in the Philippines.

This World Health Organization (WHO) Alert said in a press release on July 16, 2019, that rabies vaccines, Verorab, Speeda, and the anti-rabies serum Equirab, may be counterfeit.

If you are in possession of the above products, please do not use them, says the WHO.

Additionally, if you have used these falsified products, or if you suffer an adverse event having used these products, please seek immediate advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Furthermore, all rabies products must be obtained from authentic and reliable distribution sources. Their authenticity and condition should be carefully verified.

This news is important since rabies is one of the most fatal infections and it is responsible for the death of 200-300 Filipinos annually. Globally, rabies deaths are rarely reported and children between the ages of 5–14 years are frequent victims.

The WHO said that ‘this investigation is ongoing, and laboratory analyses are being facilitated for available samples to determine their contents and better assess the risk to public health.’

‘At this stage of the investigation, no adverse reactions attributed to the falsified rabies products have been reported to WHO.’

This new investigation is linked to the January 2019 Alert regarding falsified Verorab rabies vaccines circulating in the Philippines.

Genuine Verorab, Speeda and Rabipur vaccines are used for pre-exposure vaccination or post-exposure prophylaxis. Genuine Equirab anti-rabies serum provides passive immunization against rabies, said the WHO.

The WHO requests increased vigilance within the supply chains of countries likely to be affected by these falsified products. Increased vigilance should include hospitals, clinics, health centers, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies and any other suppliers of vaccines.

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease that is almost always fatal following the onset of clinical symptoms. Rabies is present worldwide, with over 95% of human deaths occurring in the Asia and Africa regions.

Bats are responsible for about 70 percent of rabies deaths among people who are infected with the rabies virus in the USA, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Rabies vaccines in the USA

There are 2 vaccines approved by the CDC containing inactivated rabies virus, and are considered as equally safe and effective:

HDCV vaccine (Imovax) is produced in human diploid cell culture.
PCECV vaccine (RabAvert) is produced in chick embryo cell culture.

The CDC says 23 human cases of rabies have been reported in the USA between 2008-2017. Eight of these cases were contracted outside of the U.S. and its territories.

Rabies vaccine news

Rabies is one of the neglected tropical diseases that predominantly affect poor and vulnerable populations who live in remote rural locations, says the WHO. Treating a rabies exposure, where the average cost of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is US$40 in Africa, and US$49 in Asia, can be a catastrophic financial burden on affected families.

Every year, more than 15 million people worldwide receive a post-bite vaccination. This is estimated to prevent hundreds of thousands of rabies deaths annually.

If you have any information concerning the manufacture, distribution, or supply of these medical products please contact rapidalert@who.int

For further information from the WHO, please here.

Sub Title:

Philippines rabies vaccines and anti-rabies serum may be counterfeit

Reference:

WHO: Medical Product Alert N°8/2019 Falsified Rabies Vaccines and Anti-Rabies Serum circulating in the Philippines

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Rabies Alert Near Orlando Florida

Don Hackett — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 14:15:12 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Danielle Reiter, RN

Kelley Lu, PharmD

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County issued a 60-day rabies alert for a 2-mile radius around the intersection of Interstate 4 and Epcot Center Drive in southwest Orange County.

This alert was issued on July 9, 2019, in response to a feral cat testing positive for the rabies disease.

The feral cat scratched two Disney cast members. Neither cast member contracted rabies, and both received medical treatment.

The cat was put down by animal control. But, the identified cat may have infected other animals in the area.

Bats are responsible for about 70 percent of rabies deaths among people who are infected with the rabies virus in the USA, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Contact with feral cats, stray dogs, and all wildlife particularly raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, and coyotes should be avoided.

The CDC says 23 human cases of rabies have been reported in the USA between 2008-2017. Eight of these cases were contracted outside of the U.S. and its territories.

This decrease is largely due to routine pet vaccination and the availability of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which combines the rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin, to prevent infection after exposure to the virus.

When traveling abroad, rabid dogs are a leading cause of rabies cases in Americans.

The public is asked to maintain a heightened awareness that rabies is active in this area of southwest Orange County.

Rabies is a disease of the nervous system that can cause paralysis and is fatal to warm-blooded animals and humans. The virus is spread through saliva, and humans may become infected through a bite wound, scratch or exposure of a fresh cut to the saliva of a rabid animal.

Rabies is nearly always fatal if people don’t get rabies PEP before symptoms start. Each year, about 55,000 people in the USA seek PEP services after potential rabies exposure.

The CDC says the estimated public health expenditures on rabies disease diagnostics, prevention, and control in the USA is over $245 million dollars annually.

Rabies news

Rabies advice

All pets should have current rabies immunizations.
Secure outside garbage in covered containers to avoid attracting wild animals.
Do not leave pet food outside. This also attracts other animals.
Avoid contact with all wildlife, especially feral cats, raccoons, bats, and foxes.
If bitten or scratched by a suspected rabid animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water, seek medical attention, and promptly report the incident to Orange County Animal Services (407) 254-9150.
Rabies is preventable when treatment is provided in a timely manner.
For general questions pertaining to animals, contact Orange County Animal Services (407) 254-9150.

Rabies vaccines

There are 2 vaccines approved in the USA, both contain inactivated rabies virus, and are considered as equally safe and effective:

HDCV vaccine (Imovax) is produced in human diploid cell culture.
PCECV vaccine (RabAvert) is produced in chick embryo cell culture.

For more information on rabies click here.

Sub Title:

Rabies vaccines Imovax and RabAvert both contain inactivated rabies virus and are considered as equally safe and effective by the CDC

References:

CDC: Rabies

Rabies Alert issued for the area around Interstate 4 and Epcot Center Drive

Feral cat scratches two Disney employees in Orlando, causing rabies alert near Epcot

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