Epidemiology

Lyssaviruses have unique and, in several cases, cryptic enzootic transmission cycles. They are neurotropic viruses that cannot be detected until onset of clinical illness and have diverged to circulate within a wide variety of reservoir mammalian populations with near-global distribution. There are 16 recognized Lyssaviruses, the majority of which are enzootic in bat populations. Rabies virus is the causative agent of nearly all Lyssavirus-related human deaths, estimated at 59,000 globally each year; a higher death burden than any other zoonotic pathogen. Domestic dog is the primary rabies virus reservoir species responsible for human infections; however, there are over 30 recognized rabies virus reservoir species globally and many more are presumed to be unrecognized due to poor-quality surveillance infrastructure. Rabies elimination is possible, by example of the elimination of canine rabies from most high-income countries through sustained dog vaccination and population management programs, as well as elimination of rabies virus from several wildlife populations, particularly raccoons in Canada and red foxes in Western Europe. The epidemiology of Lyssaviruses, particularly rabies virus, is geographically distinct and continues to evolve as global surveillance systems are expanded.