A national rabies database is an organized computerized collection of consistent rabies data, which allows rapid evaluation of data and related information, and serves as a way of classifying concepts along epidemiological axes, such as spatio-temporal trends in disease incidence, risk factors, risk assessment and success of interventions.

The data are typically organized to most easily answer the questions for which rabies surveillance was established. Because storage, management and evaluation of data from rabies surveillance are complex tasks, the national rabies database should be preferably operated by a dedicated epidemiological unit. This unit should compile all relevant data from local jurisdictions to national levels, and provide regular analysis, maps and reports to responsible authorities upon request or make information publicly available (via websites or web-based applications – see here).

For national authorities to collect and use rabies surveillance data efficiently, staff need to be available to maintain the database and work closely with state and local medical and veterinary services, and other experts