Table 1 Putative epidemiological classifications

1) ENDEMIC TRANSMISSION: Canine rabies (variants 1 & 2 in Latin America [19]) detected over at least two consecutive months during the previous 2 years, indicating focal transmission. No significant decrease in the frequency of months with case detection over the previous 5 years.

2) DECLINING TRANSMISSION: At least 1 month with detected canine rabies cases in the previous 2 years, but a declining frequency of months with detected cases over the previous 5 years.

3) INTERMITTENT DETECTION: Canine rabies cases detected during the past 2 years but not over consecutive months. No temporal trend in the frequency of months with detected cases during the previous 5 years.

4) ABSENT-VULNERABLE: Either: (i) canine rabies cases not detected in the previous 2 years, but neighbouring an area where rabies is Endemic or Declining and therefore vulnerable to incursions; or (ii) a single month with cases detected during the previous 2 years, but no case detection prior to that month for at least 2 years (i.e. recently experienced an incursion that did not lead to further spread).

5) ABSENT: No cases of canine rabies cases detected during the last 2 years and minimal risk of incursion (i.e. not neighbouring with any Endemic or Declining states).