Public awareness key to tackling infectious diseases, notes research

Spotting the signs and symptoms of various infectious diseases can mean the difference between life and death. According to research in the journal Epidemiology and Infection, public awareness campaigns play a key role in stopping the spread of such infections.

Examining this in greater detail, researchers from the University of Surrey, working alongside an international team including scientists from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Azerbaijan Republican Veterinary Laboratory and State Veterinary Service, and Washington State University, assessed the effectiveness of raising public awareness of rabies.

Rabies, despite not necessarily being found within Western European countries, is still a threat along the borders of Europe. To help combat this risk, the researchers launched a public health campaign, which involved the distribution of posters, leaflets and text messages to increase the knowledge and understanding of the disease within the high-risk region of Azerbaijan.

To assess how effective this campaign was, the researchers returned to the country and worked with 600 targeted households in the original campaign area and households from two districts that had not received any information on rabies.

Both groups were evaluated to see what they knew about the disease and what preventative measures should be taken. In this evaluation, it was found that the group that had received the awareness campaign not only knew more about rabies but also they were more likely to have their dogs vaccinated against the disease — the most effective way to reduce the spread of disease.

Dr Dan Horton, lecturer in Veterinary Virology at the University of Surrey, said: “Infectious diseases pose a considerable threat to human health and place an enormous economic burden on healthcare systems. This research shows that even a simple public awareness campaign can have a positive effect. The results have potential impact for other diseases and other countries in the region.”