Researchers from the College of Surrey working alongside a global group together with scientists from the Animal and Plant Well being Company, Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, Azerbaijan Republican Veterinary Laboratory and State Veterinary Service, and Washington State College, examined intimately the effectiveness of elevating consciousness of the infectious illness, rabies. Though Western Europe is free from rabies, it continues to pose a risk to animal and human well being on the borders of Europe.

To assist handle this risk, researchers launched a public well being marketing campaign, by distributing posters, leaflets and textual content messages to extend information and understanding of the illness in a excessive threat area of Azerbaijan, a rustic that sits in an essential location between Europe and Asia.

Though such campaigns are sometimes used, it’s uncommon to evaluate the effectiveness of such campaigns, which is important contemplating their price and the time taken to undertake them. To evaluate the effectiveness of this marketing campaign researchers returned to the nation and labored with 600 focused households within the authentic marketing campaign space, and households from two districts who had not obtained any data on rabies.

Researchers surveyed each teams’ information of the illness and what preventative measures ought to be taken. They discovered that the notice marketing campaign not solely improved information of rabies, however most significantly it meant individuals have been extra more likely to have their canine vaccinated. Rabies is carried and transmitted by canine so canine vaccination is the best approach to cut back the burden of illness in each canine and people.

Maybe most stunning was the place the inhabitants stated they get their data. Regardless of the social media revolution, nearly all of respondents nonetheless put nose to nose communication with household and associates above social media as sources of data.

Dr Dan Horton, Lecturer in Veterinary Virology on the College of Surrey, stated: “Infectious ailments pose a substantial risk to human well being and place an infinite financial burden on well being care programs. This analysis reveals that even a easy public consciousness marketing campaign can have a constructive impact. The outcomes have potential affect for different ailments and different international locations within the area. “

Rabies is a critical an infection within the mind and nervous system transmitted within the saliva of contaminated animals right into a wound or a scratch. It’s nearly at all times deadly as soon as signs seem and presents an infinite threat to human well being. This devastating illness additionally causes a big financial burden estimated at $8.6 billion per yr.