Table 3.

Mapping human rabies evidence identified in Africa

Evidence map	Studies	Impacts/outcomes
Strengthening rabies surveillance	35 36 42 87 88 90 92 101	Reinforcement of rabies surveillance system that can improve rabies reporting and increase the awareness of the community, and ensuring availability of PEP at lower health facilities are the best approaches of eliminating rabies.
Automated short message service (SMS) reminders and telephone contacts	42 44 90 98 99	Compliance with PEP regimens was significantly higher for patients following the implementation of automated SMS reminders and telephone contacts.
Public health education (PEP initiation and completion, responsible dog ownership, behaviour educational programmes and veterinary health linkages)	30 42 47 88 92 101	Lack of enforcement of regulations for licensing of dogs and rabies vaccination increased human rabies morbidity and mortality.
Accurate rabies diagnostic	31 35 36 38 39 46 86 99	The diagnosis of dog bite and rabies was clinical and laboratory based. This improved accurate rabies cases reporting.
Mass dog vaccination	39 85 92	Even though the 70% coverage was not achieved, there was an inverse relationship between dog vaccination coverage and dog rabies cases during the study period.
SMBV, FBKV, purified chicken embryo cell rabies vaccine, purified vero cell rabies vaccine, sheep brain anti-rabies vaccine, human diploid-cell vaccine and purified equine rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) (Zagreb protocol)	29 31 32 35 46 102 104 105	Studies have shown that all the rabies vaccines and RIG were efficacious and well tolerated. However, the WHO contraindicated SMBV and FBKV.
Effective rabies control and management	36 42 85 92	PEP, mass dog vaccination and WHO dog bite injury grading system
Integrated bites case management/rabies disease surveillance, prevention and control	31 32 37 44 98 99	Studies have shown the importance of coordinated surveillance, prevention and control in the eradication of rabies.

FBKV, fetal bovine kidney virus; PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis; SMBV, suckling mouse brain virus.