Endemic
animal rabies causes >99% of all
human rabies cases; elimination of
animal rabies reduces the rate of
human infections. The most recent
animal rabies cases in the Gangwon and Gyeonggi provinces of
Korea occurred in November 2012 and February 2013, respectively. Here we explore ways to ensure that
Korea remains
animal rabies non-occurrence. The
government must prevent
rabies recurrence by vaccinating
dogs, distributing bait
vaccine in regions with a high
rabies risk, performing
laboratory-based
surveillance, preventing the flow of
rabies-suspect
animals from neighboring countries, and enhancing border
quarantine. As has already been shown in several
developed countries, careful and ongoing
rabies control
will allow
Korea to remain
animal rabies-free.