Abstract

Do you know any people who have ever been infected with rabies? If you live in North America or Europe, the answer most likely is no. However, many countries in Asia and Africa are still struggling to prevent this deadly disease. Rabies usually gets transmitted to humans when they are bitten by a rabid dog. Therefore, controlling rabies in dogs would make it easier to prevent humans from getting sick.

In this study, we focus on the vaccination of dogs in India. We created a computer model that showed that by vaccinating dogs against rabies, we can control the disease in both dogs and humans. We also found that spending money on vaccinating dogs is a worthwhile way to control rabies compared to the ways it is currently prevented and treated.