May 27, 2010
The Question
What is the best way to deploy oral rabies vaccines (ORVs) around rivers in terrestrial wildlife reservoirs?
What we found
To best guard against future epidemics, ORVs should be deployed behind or on the far side of rivers and other natural barriers used for vaccine corridors. According to the models, deploying vaccinations on just this side is more effective than deploying vaccines on all sides of a natural barrier; the optimal method for deploying vaccinations is not the most expensive one.
Why it matters
When administering vaccinations in terrestrial wildlife reservoirs, natural landforms are often used to bound deployment in attempt to limit the spread of disease. The analysis in this study refines this disease control strategy to best prevent future epidemics.
