Abstract
Background:
Rabies causes over 60,000 deaths annually, primarily among children, with dog bites responsible for nearly all human cases. Although mass dog vaccination is effective in low-resource settings, structured campaigns have rarely been implemented in refugee camps, where unmanaged dog populations and limited access to post-exposure prophylaxis heighten rabies risk. This study aimed to demonstrate the possibility of delivering systematic mass dog vaccination within a short operational timeframe in a humanitarian setting and to assess community perceptions of rabies risk and prevention.
Methodology/principal findings:
In May 2025, a four-day mass dog vaccination campaign was conducted across the Kutupalong-Balukhali refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, with real-time data collection to guide operations. Post-vaccination dog sight surveys assessed operational coverage, while community surveys evaluated knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding rabies. Of the 2,275 dogs encountered, 1,781 (78.3%) were vaccinated, with 86.4% classified as unowned community dogs. The overall proportion of marked dogs across all surveyed zones was 71.5% (95% CI: 66.8–75.9%). In the community survey, 34.6% of 1,311 adult respondents (gender-adjusted) had heard of rabies, and 41.2% correctly identified dog bites as the primary route of transmission. Regarding appropriate post-bite care, 25.9% knew to both wash the wound and seek medical care. Approximately 8.7% of households experienced a dog bite in the preceding year, corresponding to a minimum annual incidence of 13.3 bites per 1,000 persons, equating to over 15,000 bites per year.
Conclusions/significance:
This study represents the first structured mass dog vaccination campaign in a refugee setting, demonstrating that rabies control can be effectively implemented even in complex humanitarian contexts. The campaign’s success offers a replicable model for integrating zoonotic disease prevention into emergency health responses, underscoring the critical need to safeguard displaced populations from preventable diseases.
Rabies causes over 60,000 deaths annually, primarily among children, with dog bites responsible for nearly all human cases. Although mass dog vaccination is effective in low-resource settings, structured campaigns have rarely been implemented in refugee camps, where unmanaged dog populations and limited access to post-exposure prophylaxis heighten rabies risk. This study aimed to demonstrate the possibility of delivering systematic mass dog vaccination within a short operational timeframe in a humanitarian setting and to assess community perceptions of rabies risk and prevention.
Methodology/principal findings:
In May 2025, a four-day mass dog vaccination campaign was conducted across the Kutupalong-Balukhali refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, with real-time data collection to guide operations. Post-vaccination dog sight surveys assessed operational coverage, while community surveys evaluated knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding rabies. Of the 2,275 dogs encountered, 1,781 (78.3%) were vaccinated, with 86.4% classified as unowned community dogs. The overall proportion of marked dogs across all surveyed zones was 71.5% (95% CI: 66.8–75.9%). In the community survey, 34.6% of 1,311 adult respondents (gender-adjusted) had heard of rabies, and 41.2% correctly identified dog bites as the primary route of transmission. Regarding appropriate post-bite care, 25.9% knew to both wash the wound and seek medical care. Approximately 8.7% of households experienced a dog bite in the preceding year, corresponding to a minimum annual incidence of 13.3 bites per 1,000 persons, equating to over 15,000 bites per year.
Conclusions/significance:
This study represents the first structured mass dog vaccination campaign in a refugee setting, demonstrating that rabies control can be effectively implemented even in complex humanitarian contexts. The campaign’s success offers a replicable model for integrating zoonotic disease prevention into emergency health responses, underscoring the critical need to safeguard displaced populations from preventable diseases.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e0014143 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Mar 2026 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
-
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Delivery of canine rabies vaccination programme in Kutupalong-Balukhali refugee camps, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Cite this
- APA
- Author
- BIBTEX
- Harvard
- Standard
- RIS
- Vancouver