History of Rabies in the Americas: From the Pre-Columbian to the Present, Volume I: Insights to Specific Cross-Cutting Aspects of the Disease in the Americas

Rabies is an ancient pathogen with a high fatality rate, primarily found in the Americas. The region is home to the vampire bat rabies virus and has made significant contributions to rabies research and vaccine development. An international effort is underway to eliminate human rabies caused by dogs, with the Americas providing the most evidence for success. This two-volume set explores the medical history and recent advances in rabies in the Americas, including its cultural, economic, and social impacts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 319 pages
Publication date: 25 April 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

Rabies, one of the oldest-known pathogens, is incurable and has the highest fatality rate among infectious diseases. The Americas are the only region where the bat rabies virus, including vampire bat rabies, exists. This region is renowned for its rich cultural references and numerous groundbreaking discoveries in the field, such as the current vaccine potency test, diagnostic assay, conception of oral vaccines for wildlife, the first human survivor of rabies, and the first successful canine rabies program implemented on a broad scale.

Rabies continues to be the most significant viral zoonosis, causing tens of thousands of human fatalities and tens of millions of exposures annually. It serves as a valuable model for other pathogens like COVID-19. An international effort is underway to eliminate human rabies caused by dogs over the next decade, with the Americas representing the primary region with the most promising evidence to achieve this goal.

This two-volume set explores the medical history and contemporary outcomes of rabies in countries across the Americas, examining the implications of and on cultural, economic, sociological, and research developments in the region. Volume I provides an overview of critical concepts related to rabies study in the Americas, including evolutionary aspects, reservoir ecology and control, elimination efforts, vaccine development, and disease hallmarks and progression. It also analyzes the long-term cultural, social, and economic impacts of rabies in the Americas.

In conclusion, rabies is a ancient and deadly pathogen that has had a profound impact on human societies throughout the Americas. Despite ongoing efforts to control and eliminate it, rabies remains a significant public health concern, particularly in regions where bat rabies virus is prevalent. The two-volume set presented here provides a comprehensive examination of the medical history and modern results of rabies in the Americas, highlighting the region's contributions to rabies research and its potential for future breakthroughs in this field.

Weight: 661g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031250514
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023