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Editor’s Choice | Research Article | 04 Jul 2026

Global spatiotemporal patterns of rabies based on integrated animal–human surveillance data from EMPRES-i Plus (2014–2024): A One Health perspective

Aisyah Amanda Hanif1 ORCID , Widya Khairunnisa Sarkowi1 ORCID , and Dinda Iryawati2 ORCID Show more
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONE HEALTH | Article No. 3 | pg no. 205-216 | Vol. 12, Issue 2 | DOI: 10.14202/IJOH.2026.205-216
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ABSTRACT

                      
Background and Aim: Rabies remains one of the most lethal zoonotic diseases worldwide, causing substantial public health and economic burdens, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Effective rabies control requires integrated surveillance systems that capture both animal and human health events within a One Health framework. The Emergency Prevention System for Animal Health (EMPRES-i Plus) is a global event-based surveillance platform that compiles rabies reports from multiple official sources. This study aimed to describe global spatiotemporal patterns of confirmed rabies reports recorded in EMPRES-i Plus between 2014 and 2024 and to evaluate their relevance within a One Health surveillance context. 
Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive surveillance study was conducted using confirmed rabies records retrieved from the EMPRES-i Plus Global Animal Disease Information System. Data covering the period from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2024, were extracted and cleaned before analysis. Reports were categorized according to geographic region, host type, and source of confirmation. Animal entries were analyzed at the report level, whereas human records were evaluated on an individual case basis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize temporal trends, regional distributions, host categories, and geographic patterns. 
Results: A total of 1,510 confirmed rabies reports were identified across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Asia contributed the highest number of reports (n = 1,056), followed by the Americas (n = 319), Europe (n = 91), and Africa (n = 44). Annual reporting fluctuated considerably, with the highest number recorded in 2014 (n = 302). Most reports (74%) originated from the World Organization for Animal Health reporting system. Domestic animals accounted for the majority of reports (n = 1,326), whereas wild animals accounted for 176 reports and captive animals for only 2 reports. Human rabies cases were limited within the database, with 27 reported cases and 20 associated deaths, all occurring in Africa and Asia. Spatial visualization revealed a widespread geographic distribution of reported rabies events, although reporting intensity varied across regions. 
Conclusion: Global rabies reporting within EMPRES-i Plus demonstrates marked regional and host-category variation, with domestic animals representing the principal reported reservoir and Asia contributing most reports. The findings emphasize the importance of strengthening harmonized One Health surveillance systems, improving cross-sectoral data integration, and enhancing reporting consistency to support progress toward global rabies elimination goals. 
                      
Keywords: animal–human interface, EMPRES-i Plus, event-based surveillance, global surveillance, One Health, rabies, spatiotemporal analysis, zoonotic disease surveillance.