'Rabies kills 160 people per day', group says

The Global Alliance for Rabies Control has said that about 59,000 people die every year from rabies transmitted by dogs.

The group also said that the poorer regions of the world were the worst affected and urged that more should be done to vaccinate dogs, particularly in low-income countries.

It further said that vaccines for bite victims should also be more affordable and more widely available in these areas.

BBC reports that most developed countries have eliminated rabies from their dog populations but in many developing countries, the virus is still present in domestic dogs and is often poorly controlled.

According to the report, Asia accounts for 60% of deaths from rabies while Africa accounts for 36%. Of the 36% in Asia, India accounts for 35%.

Authors of the research urged that "collaborative investments by medical and veterinary sectors could dramatically reduce the current large, and unnecessary, burden of rabies on affected communities."

They said furthr:

"Improved surveillance is needed to reduce uncertainty in burden estimates and to monitor the impacts of control efforts."

According to researcher Prof Louis Nel, executive director of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, "no one should die of rabies and we will continue to work together towards global rabies elimination."