Distinguishing dog-bite and rabies vulnerability in children to strengthen global elimination efforts
- 1Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
Abstract
Dog-mediated rabies remains a preventable cause of mortality in children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where free-roaming dogs are common. While the WHO-led “Zero by 30” strategy emphasises mass dog vaccination and access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), less attention has been paid to the behavioural and communication pathways that shape children’s vulnerability. This Viewpoint proposes a conceptual distinction between vulnerability to dog bites and vulnerability to rabies following exposure. Conflating these risks may contribute to diffuse messaging and missed prevention opportunities. This Viewpoint argues for a differentiated child-facing and adult-facing interventions, with schools positioned as adaptable platforms for integrating safe behaviour, disclosure, and timely care-seeking within existing systems. Aligning behavioural, educational, and biomedical components more explicitly may strengthen implementation of global rabies elimination strategies and reduce paediatric deaths.
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BibTeX
@article{tiwari2026distinguishing,
title = {{Distinguishing dog-bite and rabies vulnerability in children to strengthen global elimination efforts}},
author = {Harish Kumar Tiwari},
journal = {PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0014680},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014680},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Distinguishing dog-bite and rabies vulnerability in children to strengthen global elimination efforts
AU - Harish Kumar Tiwari
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0014680
UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014680
AB - Dog-mediated rabies remains a preventable cause of mortality in children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where free-roaming dogs are common. While the WHO-led “Zero by 30” strategy emphasises mass dog vaccination and access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), less attention has been paid to the behavioural and communication pathways that shape children’s vulnerability. This Viewpoint proposes a conceptual distinction between vulnerability to dog bites and vulnerability to rabies following exposure. Conflating these risks may contribute to diffuse messaging and missed prevention opportunities. This Viewpoint argues for a differentiated child-facing and adult-facing interventions, with schools positioned as adaptable platforms for integrating safe behaviour, disclosure, and timely care-seeking within existing systems. Aligning behavioural, educational, and biomedical components more explicitly may strengthen implementation of global rabies elimination strategies and reduce paediatric deaths.
SN - 1935-2735
ER -