OIE, Middle East Regional Conference Technical Item 1

1. OIE, Middle East Regional Conference Technical Item 1 Control of rabies in Middle East Region with emphasis on stray dog control by Prof. Hassan Aidaros OIE, Animal welfare working group haidaros@netscape.net

2. Introduction During the OIE General Session held in Paris in May 2015, OIE Regional Commission for the Middle East adopted "Control of rabies in Middle East with emphasis on stray dog control" As the technical Item 1 with questionnaire

3. In this presentation • Rabies as a world wide zoonoses • Basis of stray dog population control according to OIE, TAHC • Analysis of the collected questionnaire from the region member countries • Conclusion • Recommendations

4. General definitions Stray dog: means any dog not under direct control by a person or not prevented from roaming. Types of stray dog: a) Free-roaming owned dog not under direct control or restriction at a particular time. b) Free-roaming dog with no owner. c) Feral dog: domestic dog that has reverted to the wild state and is no longer directly dependent upon humans. Dog carrying capacity: Is the upper limit of the dog population density, that could be supported by the habitat, based on the availability of resources (food, water, shelter), and human acceptance. It is a fundamental factor in Controlling dog population

5. Rabies • Rabies is a widespread, neglected and under-reported fatal zoonosis with an almost 100% case fatality rate in animals and humans • It has a profound impacts on human and animal health, economy and trade, and societies. • Amongst all the important zoonotic diseases, rabies alone causes more than 70.000 human mortalities annually and nearly 4 million people receive post-bite rabies treatment each year, mostly children in developing countries.

6. Rabies Incubation period: varies according tothe amount of virus transmitted, virus strain, site of inoculation (bites closer to the head have a shorter incubation period), host immunity and nature of the wound. In dogs and cats, the incubation period is from 10 days to 6 months; most cases become apparent between 2 weeks and 3 months. • Once symptoms of the disease develop, rabies is fatal to both animals and humans.

7. Rabies • In Bangladesh, were dog bites are very common, many of them causing rabies; • Bangladesh is a country with one of the highest per capita ratio of rabies in humans. more than 2000 deaths every year by this disease • India counts at least for approximately 20.000 human deaths (WHO, 2009).

8. Rabies transmission • In developed countries, rabies is present mainly in wild animal hosts, while in developing countries stray animals play the important role in transmission of the disease. • It is transmitted to other animals and humans through close contact with saliva from infected animals (i.e. bites, scratches, licks on broken skin and mucous membranes). • The most frequent way that humans become infected with rabies is through the bite of infected dogs and cats, wild carnivorous species like foxes and wolves, and vampire bats. • Cattle, horses, deer and other herbivores can become infected with rabies and although they could potentially transmit the virus to other animals and to people, this rarely occurs.

9. Control of stray dog population Through fear of rabies, and with a lack of knowledge and resources, some communities use cruel and ineffective methods of dog population control like poisoning, electrocution and drowning. The killing is according to the resources and facilities of the country; Until recently, poisoning with strychnine was the only means of dog control available in some countries to the struggling local authority. Sometimes dogs died slowly, convulsing, and taking up to several hours to die.

10. Stray and feral dogs pose serious human health, socio-economic, political and animal welfare problems in many countries. • Whilst acknowledging human health is a priority including the prevention of zoonotic diseases notably rabies, the OIE recognises the importance of controlling dog populations without causing unnecessary or avoidable animal suffering. • Therefore OIE included standards for combating stray dogs by a humane means in the OIE, TAHC

11. Monitoring and Control of dog population still one of the most important, effective and cost-effective means to strategically address and eliminate rabies in man and animals. • Effective management of stray dog populations should therefore be considered as a priority, and be an integral component of any rabies control programme.

12. Veterinary Services should: • Play a lead role in preventing zoonotic diseases and • Ensuring animal welfare • Be involved in dog population control, • Coordinating their activities with other competent public institutions and/or agencies. OIE recognizes the importance of controlling dog populations without causing unnecessary animal suffering.

13. To start a dog population control program, it is important to be clear that the objective is to control all the dog population including the owned dogs, not to eradicate any of the dog populations.

14. Dog population control objectives(Article 7.7.3.) The objectives of a programme to control the dog population may include the following: 1) Improve health and welfare of owned and stray dog population. 2) Reduce numbers of stray dogs to an acceptable level. 3) Promote responsible ownership. 4) Assist in the creation and maintenance of rabies immune or rabies free dog population. 5) Reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases other than rabies. 6) Manage other risks to human health (eg. parasites). 7) Prevent harm to the environment and other animals. 8) Prevent illegal trade and trafficking.

15. Before planning a dog population program in a city or a country, the relevant authority should consider the following: • The presence of sustainable and applicable legislation, • Assessment of the problem; estimating the existing number of dog, distribution and ecology; is a key factor for the success of control strategy. • The sources of stray dogs should be identified as well the dynamic of the dogs’ population. - The aim is to estimate the size and composition of the entire dog population in the city (both roaming and confined dogs), to • Begin to understand the dynamics of the population and specifically what is maintaining the roaming dog population, and the community’s attitude towards stray dogs.

16. - Available resources, logistics, training and SOPs to implement the plan. • The sustainability of the programme to reach objectives • Awareness of the plan and strategy, about the dangerous of stray dog and zoonosis. - Intersectoral collaboration; Private and public veterinarians, municipalities; Media; mosques and churches; human health authorities, social experts.

17. reduce the carrying capacity for dog population is a crucial element to reduce animal numbers • Elimination of garbage, and wastes of slaughter houses, restaurants, and houses, Stray/feral animal numbers would go dramatically down if there was nothing for them to eat on the roads and backyards - Monitoring and evaluation of the activities and outcomes.

18. What are Monitoring and Evaluating ?? Monitoring :is a continuous process that aims to check the program progress against targets and allows for regular adjustments. Evaluation :is a periodic assessment, usually carried out at particular milestones to check the program is having the desired and stated impact.

19. Development of a dog population control program • ADVISORY GROUP (veterinarians, experts in dog ecology, dog behavior and zoonotic diseases, and representatives of relevant stakeholders (local authorities, human health services/authorities, environmental control services/authorities, NGOs and the public) - Analyze and quantify the problem - Identify the causes - Obtain public opinion on dogs - Propose the most effective approaches to use in the short and long term

20. Important considerations 1- Identifying the sources of stray dogs 2- Estimating the existing number, distribution and ecology 3- Available Regulatory framework 4- Resources available to authorities

21. 1- Identifying the sources of stray dogs • Owned dogs that roam freely; • Dogs that have been abandoned by their owner, including puppies resulting from uncontrolled breeding of owned dogs; • Unowned dogs that reproduce successfully

22. 2- Estimating the existing number, distribution and ecology • Practical tools that are available include registers of dogs, population estimates, and surveys of dogs owners, dog shelters and veterinarians. • The important factors relevant to the dog carrying capacity of the environment include food, shelter, water and human attitudes and behaviour.

23. 3- Regulatory framework • registration and identification of dogs, • vaccination against rabies, • veterinary procedures, • control of dog movement (local and international) • environmental control, regulation of dog shelters, • animal welfare obligations of owners and authorities

24. 4- Resources available to authorities • human resources, • financial, • technical tools, • infrastructure, • cooperative activities, • public-private-NGO partnerships, • central state or province –local

25. Control measures • Education and legislation for responsible ownership (collaboration with local governmental authorities, NGOs, kennel clubs, private vets, and vet organisations assist Veterinary Authorities in establishing and maintaining programs) • Registration and identification of dogs (core component for the control of the dog population) • Reproductive control (surgical and chemical sterilisation, chemical contraception and separation during oestrus) • Removal and handling (CA should capture, collect and transport humanely dogs following the relevant legislation procedures)

26. Control measures • Capture and return, rehoming or release (clear procedure and standards developed by the CA) • Environmental controls • Control of dog movement – international (export/import) • Control of dog movement – within the country (e.g. leash law, roaming instructions) • Regulation of dog dealers (encourage dealers to form or join association respecting the rules and legislation) • Reduction in dog bite incidence (the most effective means are education and placing responsibilities on the owner) • Euthanasia

27. Euthanasia Euthanasia of dogs, if used alone, is not an effective control measure. If used, it should be done : - In combination with other measures to achieve effective long term control - Following general principles of Terrestrial Code - With emphasis on using the most practical, rapid and humane methods - Minimizing distress, anxiety and pain by ensuring that operators are appropriately trained

28. Section 1 Understanding the situation of Stray dogs

29. Main results of the questionnaire In order to evaluate the situation of rabies and stray dog population control in the Middle Eastern region, a questionnaire was sent to the 20 Members of the Region

30. Methodology The questionnaire was designed in four sections to capture the following information: • Understanding the situation of stray dogs as almost cases of human rabies are transmitted through dog bites. 2) Understanding the awareness of OIE recommendations on stray dog population control; TAHC chapter 7.7. 3) The situation of rabies, by the request of human and animal cases statistics. 4) Asking for any additional support that can help in the field stray dogs and rabies control when relevant.

31. (1) Responding countries Afghanistan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Yemen.

32. Responding countries

33. Section 1: Understanding the situation of stray dogs: Do you estimate the number of owned dogs in your country? only 7 of 18 Countries have indicated that they have an estimation of the number of owned dogs. 38%

34. Does the stray dog population pose a problem in your country?

35. Do you know the annual number of dog bites to human in your country?

36. . Do you estimate the number of stray dogs in your country?

37. Rank of the sources of stray dogs

38. The total number of dog bites to human in the 11 countries increased from 485 623 in 2010 to 692 876 in 2014, around 40% in only 5 years. • The highest number of stray dogs was present in Yemen one million and turkey more than 750.000, while the least were in Somalia between 3 and 21 as well in Bahrain 3000 stray dogs. In Jordan the number is between17.000 and 20.000 stray dogs • it is evident that the responded countries considered the un-owned reproducing successfully are the main source of stray dogs, while the dogs abandoned by their owned, and the owned dogs are the least.

39. Counting activity of stray dogs population • Out of the 18 member countries; only three countries (17%) uses the direct observation method according to the OIE Code. • Only three countries (Bahrain, Iran and Turkey) organise counting for stray dogs. • Iran organises an annually counting activities of stray dogs in rural area; • while Turkey had organised 3 times in both rural and urban areas. • Bahrain organise counting activities of stray dogs in both rural and urban areas

40. The actors responsible for the stray dog population control in your country

41. The presence of necessary regulatory framework for the following key elements

42. .Do the authorities in charge of stray dog control have the necessary /adequate resources?

43. Compliance of the countries with the OIE standards 7.7

44. Methods of euthanasia are used for stray dog control

45. Section 1. bis – Understanding the situation of rabies.Is rabies present in your country?

46. Information on prevalence of rabies in your country

47. A comparison of some odd data between total number of human rabies cases originated from stray dogs biting and total number of human treated for rabies

48. Are foxes considered as reservoir for rabies

49. How many stray dogs are vaccinated in your country per year?

50. How many owned dogs are vaccinated in your country per year? Number of recorded vaccinated owned dogs