scholarly journals Public health implications of an outbreak of rabies in arctic foxes and reindeer in the Svalbard archipelago, Norway, September 2011

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (40) ◽  
Author(s):  
E MacDonald ◽  
K Handeland ◽  
H Blystad ◽  
M Bergsaker ◽  
M Fladberg ◽  
...  

Between 16 September and 5 October 2011 rabies was diagnosed in two arctic foxes and eight reindeer in the Svalbard archipelago, in Norway. This outbreak occurs at the end of the reindeer hunting season and poses an increased risk to many people that were involved in the hunt. As of 28 September 2011, 280 people had received post-exposure prophylaxis. No human cases of rabies have occurred.

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shalini Sivananjiah Pradeep ◽  
Suman Gadicherla Raghu ◽  
Prathab A G ◽  
Banashankari G Rudresh ◽  
Radhika Kunnavil

The working environment of healthcare workers (HCW) exposes them to sharp injuries. This communication attempts to examine the injury registers, incidence of sharps injuries and blood splash exposures, and the post-exposure prophylaxis status of employees in a tertiary care hospital. Analysis included records form 54 locations of two units of a tertiary hospital attached to a Medical College. Maintenance of the injury register overall was highly satisfactory in both units. Two hundred and nine injuries were recorded from both units of the hospital. The majority of injuries (60.5%) occurred in the age group of 20-30 years with 70% among females. Waste handlers were at increased risk during waste management procedures. Thirty two percent of sharps injury injuries occurred in wards. Of the ward nursing staff, 25.3% received sharps injuries. Post-exposure prophylaxis for Hepatitis B (primary dose) was given to 25 HCWs; 11 received booster doses. The basic regimen for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis was given to 4 HCWs. Awareness about records maintenance, regular documentation, awareness and training, and implementation of appropriate preventive measures can reduce the incidence of injuries. Key words: Sharps, injury register, Health care workers (HCW),Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP)


Author(s):  
Elizabeth Kaplun ◽  
Richard J. Martino ◽  
Kristen D. Krause ◽  
Michael Briganti ◽  
Paul A. D’Avanzo ◽  
...  

Methamphetamine use is associated with increased risk of HIV infection among young sexual minority men (SMM). Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an effective strategy for individuals who are exposed to HIV, but there is limited research about PEP use among young SMM and its relationship with methamphetamine use. This study analyzes the association between ever PEP use and recent methamphetamine use among young SMM in New York City, using cross-sectional data from the P18 Cohort Study (n = 429). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between methamphetamine use and ever PEP use. Compared with those who had not used methamphetamine in the last 6 months, young SMM who did use methamphetamine were significantly more likely to have ever used PEP (AOR = 6.07, 95% CI: 2.10–16.86). Young SMM who had ever used PrEP had 16 times higher odds of ever using PEP (AOR = 16, 95% CI: 7.41–35.95). Those who completed bachelor’s degrees were 61% less likely to have ever used PEP (AOR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.17–0.88). These data suggest that methamphetamine use could increase the risk of HIV infection, highlighting the critical need to target interventions for young SMM who use methamphetamine and are more likely to engage in unprotected intercourse.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Md Waliur Rahman ◽  
◽  
Md Habibullah Sarkar ◽  
Samir Kumar Talukder ◽  
Md Joynal Abedin ◽  
...  

Introduction: Dog bites in humans are a major public health problem. Globally, millions of people are bitten by dogs but most of the fatal cases occur in children. Dog bites in human are a serious public health problem and have been well documented worldwide. As rabies is not a notifiable disease in Bangladesh and most deaths occur in rural areas where surveillance is poor. Objectives: To determine the pattern of dog bite injuries and associated health problems among children. Methods: The study was an observational retrospective study carried out at the Dept. of General Surgery, Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, Chuadanga, Bangladesh. The study reviewed the clinical data of patients managed for dog bite related injuries and rabies over a four and half year period between January 2016 and June 2020. A proforma was designed to extract relevant clinical data from the case records. Information extracted included the age, sex of the victims, site of the bite, time of presentation in the hospital, pre-hospital treatment, hospital treatment including post-exposure prophylaxis and complication. Results: In all, 200 cases of dog bite injuries were managed constituting 0.89% of the total consultations; 5 (2.5%) had rabies. Most of the victims were aged 6-12 years (55.0%) and majority (67.0%) was boys. Eighty two percent of the victims presented within 24hrs of the injury. 92 (46.0%) had WHO grade 3 dog bite injury at presentation and the lower limb was the commonest (56.0%) bite site. Use of herbal preparation was the most common pre-hospital treatment 60%. Although 95.0% received anti-rabies vaccine, only 55.5% of them completed the vaccination schedule. The case fatality rate for dog bite was 5.0%. The 5 that died all presented late, had no post exposure prophylaxis and died within 24 hours of admission. Conclusion: There is need for public enlightenment on dangers associated with dog bites and also for the government to ensure vaccination for cost of post exposure prophylaxis treatment for children free of cost


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 184-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salisu Abubakar ◽  
Garba Iliyasu ◽  
Farouq Muhammad Dayyab ◽  
Salisu Inuwa ◽  
Rabiu Alhassan Tudun Wada ◽  
...  

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) have an increased risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Aims/objectives: We aim to examine the utilisation and outcome of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for both HIV and hepatitis B (HBV) among HCWs. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary hospital in North-Western Nigeria. We reviewed data on HIV or HBV PEP given to HCWs between 2004 and 2016. Results: A total of 115 HCWs presented for PEP during the study period. Intern doctors were the most exposed group (40/115; 34.8%). There were 86/115 (74.8%) needle stick exposures. While 53/115 (46.1%) of the sources of exposure were HIV-positive, 9/115(7.83%) were HBV-positive. Zidovudine-based regimen (40/70) was the most commonly prescribed. No seroconversion occurred among those that completed PEP treatment and follow-up. Discussion: No seroconversion occurred among those that received either or both HIV and HBV PEP and completed PEP treatment.


2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-159
Author(s):  
Mohammad Robed Amin

Background: Rabies has been the subject of fear ever since the disease was recognized. Worldwide the number of deaths annually, due to rabies, is estimated to be between 35,000 to 50,000 approximately Rabies continues to be a major public health problem in Bangladesh killing an estimated 2000 people annually and 100,000 people receive post-exposure treatment in the country. In this regard the post-exposure treatment of animal bite cases is of prime importance. Materials and Methods: Communicable disease control(CDC) of, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) took the noble initiative to establish the national rabies elimination programme 2010 with an comprehensive approach of care for human and control of rabid animal.  An expert group meeting for strategic plan and finalizing the guidelines for prevention and control of rabies cases was held in 2010, under CDC of DGHS to bring out uniformity in post-exposure treatment practices. . The participants in the meeting included practitioners managing anti-rabies clinics, laboratory medicine practitioners, policy makers, public health experts from both public and private sector. The guideline, which emerged out of consensus of expert groups, is summarized in this paper. Results: Until recently the Nervous Tissue Vaccine (NTV) was the mainstay for post-exposure prophylaxis in Bangladesh. As per WHO recommendations, the production and use of this reactogenic vaccine should be gradually phased out from our country. Modern, safe and effective anti-rabies Cell Culture Vaccines (CCVs) will be used for post-exposure prophylaxis in public sectors. The limitation is the high cost of this vaccine and also the cost and unavailability of Anti Rabies Immunoglobulin. WHO recommended the use of intra-dermal (ID) route of application of CCVs. Considering the recommendations of experts, results of clinical trials and international experience, experts of Bangladesh recommends ID regimen phase wise. In first phase, only Dhaka Infectious Disease Hospital will serve as Anti-rabies centre for ID regimen. After its successful implementation, ID regimen will spread out to Division and then to District level hospitals. National experts suggested and recommended the use of cost-effective vaccination schedules such as abbreviated multisite IM Zagreb protocol (4 dose, 3 visits) and updated Thai Red Cross (TRC) intradermal regimen(2-2-2-0-2) to phase out NTV and to make available modern rabies vaccine in public sector. Conclusion: This guideline will be extremely useful for the country to make rational use of modern rabies vaccine and phase out NTV by 2011. The guideline will be of immense use for better management of animal bite cases and availability and affordability of modern rabies vaccine will be of great help for physician to manage appropriately for preventing  the deadly disease rabies. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v12i2.7691 JOM 2011; 12(2): 153-159


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 608-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel E Harris ◽  
Lee Curtis ◽  
Vikas Hegde ◽  
Vikki Garrick ◽  
Lisa Gervais ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Increased risk of opportunistic infection—e.g., varicella zoster infection—secondary to therapies is a cause of morbidity in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients. The UK vaccination schedule does not include varicella immunisation. We aimed to evaluate the varicella screening and immunisation programme in a paediatric IBD population. Methods Data regarding IBD diagnosis, varicella status, and consequent immunisations/treatment interventions were collected retrospectively from the records of patients diagnosed with IBD over a 10-year period [2009–2018]. Results In all, 520 IBD patients were diagnosed; 505/520 [97%] had varicella testing; 46/505 [9%] were naïve. Of 501 patients, 391[78%] were tested before or within 7 days of diagnosis; this increased in the second 5-year period compared with the first (229/268 [85%] versus 162/233 [70%]; p <0.00001). Median diagnosis age of naïve patients was lower [8.3 years versus 12.8 years; p <0.00001]. Where vaccination was feasible, 21/31 [68%] had two and 7/31 [23%] one immunisation. Prednisolone induction led to lower rates of vaccination (5/13 [39%] versus 23/33 [70%] for other induction therapies; p =0.02). Of 28 vaccinated patients, 5 [18%] had suspected breakthrough varicella; and 6/18 [33%] unimmunised patients required post-exposure prophylaxis or treatment for varicella. Immunisation was associated with a decrease in patients requiring post-exposure prophylaxis (0/28 [0%] versus 5/18 [28%]; p =0.0006) and varicella-related hospital admission (1/28 [4%] versus 4/18 [22%]; p =0.01). Conclusions High rates of varicella screening and immunisation within a PIBD population are possible, resulting in a reduction in hospital admissions for varicella treatment. Varicella immunisation may be of increasing importance within the PIBD population with the emergence of novel therapeutic strategies.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 32-38
Author(s):  
Mohammad Anwarul Bari ◽  
TH Zohra Moon Moon ◽  
Zinat Begum ◽  
Md Asadul Kabir ◽  
Mohammad Murad Hossain

Background & Objective: Rabies is major public health problem in Bangladesh, although little epidemiological information is available about the disease. The present study is, therefore, intended to assess the extent of animal bite and rabies, and the status of post-exposure prophylaxis in Bangladesh. Materials & Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from clinical records and registers of patients with animal bites and rabies cases attended at IDH between January 2010 to December 2012. All the rabies cases were diagnosed clinically and were analysed using descriptive statistics. Result: Of the 276 patients of rabies patients admitted in the Infectious Disease Hospital, Mohakhali, Dhaka during the period 2009 to 2013, about 39% were 10 or <10 years old and 26.4% more than 40 years old with mean age of the patients being 26 years (range: 2-90 years). Over three-quarters (76.1%) were male (3:1). Majority (80.1%) was rural resident. The injuries were primarily inflicted by bite (92%) and rarely by scratch (8%). About 96% had injury with bleeding. Dogs were the prime biting animal (88%) followed by cat (7.2%), jackal (2.9%), mongoose (1.4%) and others (0.4%). About three-quarters (74.6%) of the animals were stray animal, followed by rabid (mad) animal (18.1%), pet (4.3%) and others (2.9%). In most cases (82.6%) the biting animal could not be traced. Most of the patients received bite in lower limbs (76.4%), were multiple (70%) and were of category III (96%). Of the total cases, only 34(12.3%) received vaccine before admission at our hospital. Of them only 9(26.5%) completed the course schedule. Half of the patients received vaccine from the pharmacy and 38.3% from Institute of Public Health (IPH). However, over 60% of the patients were uncertain about their preservation status. More than 60% of patients took more than 40 days to develop rabies following bite, 27.5% 20 - 40 days and 10.9% < 20 days. The mean interval was 72.8 days (range 10 days to 3 years). Conclusion: Rabies is usually a disease of children, male and rural resident primarily caused by bite of stray dogs. The post-exposure prophylaxis is at its worst with majority does not receive vaccine. Protection by rabies immunoglobulin is even rare. None of the patients survived of the disease. Ibrahim Cardiac Med J 2013; 3(1&2): 32-38


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