December 1, 2017
K-State faculty member revises rabies immunology module for World Health Organization
The World Health Organization, or WHO, has just published a revised version of its module on rabies immunization, thanks to the work of Susan Moore, director of the Rabies Laboratory at Kansas State University, and Deborah Briggs, adjunct professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and former executive director and current board member of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
"The Immunological Basis for Immunization Series: Module 17: Rabies" is part of a series modules, on general immunology devoted to one of the vaccines recommended for the "Expanded Programme on Immunization," i.e. vaccines against diphtheria, measles, pertussis, polio, tetanus, tuberculosis and yellow fever. Moore and Briggs served as the sole editorial team for this publication.
"The updated rabies immunology module was needed to complement the anticipated update to WHO's recommendations for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis," Moore explained. "These changes are due to recent findings on shortened vaccine regimens and intradermal administration; and will greatly benefit rabies prevention and control efforts in developing countries where the burden of human rabies deaths primarily occurs."
Since the module series was started by WHO in 1993, it has been updated and extended to include other vaccines of international importance. The main purpose of the modules is to provide national immunization managers and vaccination professionals with an overview of the scientific basis of vaccination against a range of important infectious diseases. The modules also serve as a record of the immunological basis for the WHO recommendations on vaccine use, published in the WHO vaccine position papers.
In addition to serving as director of the Rabies Laboratory, Moore is a clinical assistant professor in the diagnostic medicine/pathobiology department in the College of Veterinary Medicine. The Rabies Laboratory is a part of the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.