History of Rabies Incidence and Rabies Control in Serbia in Support of the Zero by 2030 Campaign to Eliminate Dog-Mediated Human Rabies

Urban (principally canine-mediated) rabies has been a public health risk for people living in Serbia for centuries. The first legal act in urban rabies prevention in Serbia was established in 1834 by introducing high taxes for pet dog owners. Five years later in 1839, the first set of literature describing rabies prevention was issued by the health department from The Serbian Ministry of Interior. An overview of cauterization of rabies wounds was presented as the principal method of rabies post exposure prophylaxis. In 1890, a human rabies vaccination was introduced in Serbia with the royal government directive which ordered patients to be treated at the Pasteur Institute in Budapest in receipt of rabies vaccination. Urban (canine) rabies was eliminated during the 1980s, but sylvatic (principally fox-mediated) rabies still prevailed. The last human rabies case was recorded in the Province of Kosovo and Metohija in 1980. Sylvatic rabies in Serbia is in the final stages of elimination by orally vaccinating foxes (Vulpes vulpes). The only published finding of a lyssavirus among Serbian bats was made in 1954 by Dr Milan Nikolić in the vicinity of Novi Sad. In 2006, a comprehensive two-year active surveillance program of lyssaviruses in bats in Serbia was undertaken. In this single study, all of the bats from Serbia tested negative for a lyssavirus.

Spatial Distribution and Population Estimation of Dogs in Thailand: Implications for Rabies Prevention and Control

Poor management of dog populations causes many problems in different countries, including rabies. To strategically design a dog population management, certain sets of data are required, such as the population size and spatial distribution of dogs. However, these data are rarely available or incomplete. Hence, this study aimed to describe the characteristics of dog populations in Thailand, explore their spatial distribution and relevant factors, and estimate the number of dogs in the whole country. First, four districts were selected as representatives of each region. Each district was partitioned into grids with a 300-m resolution. The selected grids were then surveyed, and the number of dogs and related data were collected. Random forest models with a two-part approach were used to quantify the association between the surveyed dog population and predictor variables. The spatial distribution of dog populations was then predicted. A total of 1,750 grids were surveyed (945 grids with dog presence and 805 grids with dog absence). Among the surveyed dogs, 86.6% (12,027/13,895) were owned. Of these, 51% were classified as independent, followed by confined (25%), semi-independent (21%), and unidentified dogs (3%). Seventy-two percent (1,348/1,868) of the ownerless dogs were feral, and the rest were community dogs. The spatial pattern of the dog populations was highly distributed in big cities such as Bangkok and its suburbs. In owned dogs, it was linked to household demographics, whereas it was related to community factors in ownerless dogs. The number of estimated dogs in the entire country was 12.8 million heads including 11.2 million owned dogs (21.7 heads/km2) and 1.6 million ownerless dogs (3.2 heads/km2). The methods developed here are extrapolatable to a larger area and use much less budget and manpower compared to the present practices. Our results are helpful for canine rabies prevention and control programs, such as dog population management and control and rabies vaccine allocation.

PREVENTION OF RABIES DISEASE IN THE WORKING AREA OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OF EAST TOMONI

Background: Rabies is a deadly disease that is transmitted from animals to humans and attacks the central nervous system (WHO, 2016). Data reported by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) revealed that the global human death rate due to rabies is almost 70 thousand per year. In other words, every ten minutes one person in the world dies from the virus. Objectives: This study aimed to find out the knowledge and prevention of rabies carried out by the community around the East Tomoni Public Health Center. Methods: This study was conducted in the working area of East Tomoni Public Health Center by involving 390 participants in August 2020. Data was collected using simple random sampling. The instrument of this study is questionnaire. Statistical test method used to know independent variables are univariat analysis and bivariat analysis. Results: The majority of good knowledge as much as 351 (90%) respondents were less Knowledge while 39 (10%) respondents. Good attitude as many as 318 (81.5%) Respondents have a pretty good attitude as many as 72 (18.5%) Respondents. Good rabies prevention measures were 347 respondents (88.9%) while those who had less rabies prevention measures were 43 (11.02%) respondents. The results of the study using the Pearson Chi-Square test showed that the level of knowledge was p-value = 0.000 (α < 0.05) means there is a relationship between the level of knowledge and rabies prevention measures in the work area of ​​the Tomoni Timur Public Health Center, whereas, the attitude with the Pearson Chi-Square test shows that the attitude of p-value = 0.000 (α < 0.05) means that there is a relationship between attitude and rabies prevention measures in the working area of ​​the Tomoni Community Health Center. Conclusion: There is a relationship between knowledge and attitudes of the community and rabies prevention in the East Tomoni Community Health Center.

The wound severity of animal bite victims visiting rabies prevention clinics and the influencing factors in Central China: a cross-sectional investigation

Background Animal bites are a major public health problem. The more serious the bite wound is, the higher the risk of developing rabies is. This study aimed to investigate the severity of wounds among animal bite victims and identify the influencing factors in Wuhan, China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1015 animal bite victims visiting rabies prevention clinics. We performed a face-to-face interview to collect information on the exposure category of the bite wound, the type of the offending animal, exposure-to-risk situations, etc. Factors associated with exposure categories were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Five hundred and sixty-four (55.57%) cases were category III exposures, 418 (41.18%) were category II exposures, and 33 (3.25%) were category I exposures. People who were hurt by their own domestic animals (odds ratio [OR] = 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14–2.10), and those exposed to animals unvaccinated against rabies (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.08–1.95) had a higher risk for category III exposures. Respondents who did not know the fatality of rabies were more likely to be injured seriously compared to those who knew that rabies is fatal, and the OR was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.05–1.86). Conclusions This study showed that factors associated with the severity of bite wounds mainly included types of the offending animal, vaccination status of the animal, and knowledge of rabies fatality. Educational programs and awareness-raising campaigns should be provided to decrease severe animal bites, especially targeting pet owners and those with limited rabies knowledge.

The animal bites cases in Meybod and Ardakan cities of Iran

Rabies is one of the most common diseases between humans and animals and is an important public health priority. This study was performed to investigate the epidemiological features of animal bites referred to rabies prevention centers in Meybod and Ardakan towns (Iran) in 2018 and 2019. The present research was a cross-sectional descriptive study. All cases of animal bites registered in the rabies prevention center of Meybod and Ardakan cities during 2018 and 2019 were investigated. The data was analyzed for demographic and epidemiological information using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Finally, was analyzed by SPSS version 20. The results of the study showed that 848 cases of animal bites have occurred in two cities, which is more common in adolescents and males. The most common animals causing bite were cats and dogs in these areas. Because of the large number of animal bites in the mentioned cities, the need for planning for educational and care activities to reduce the cases of bites is recommended

An Investigation on the Cases of Bitten by Animals in Yazd City

Common diseases between humans and animals are an important public health priority. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of animal bite referring to rabies prevention centers in Yazd University of Medical Sciences in 2018. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. All cases of animal bite were examined in the rabies prevention center of Yazd city during 2018. Demographic and epidemiological data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software. The results of the study show that 1,750 cases of bite occurred in adolescents and males. In this study, the most common bite was in the age group of 15 to 19 (33.3%) in terms of age distribution. The most common animal was bitten by cats in urban areas. According to the bite season, the highest bite in this study was summer and the lowest in spring. Given the high incidence of bite in the province, it is recommended to plan for educational and care activities to reduce the incidence of bite

The Rabies Concert: Rising towards the Last Waltz?

Apologies for the brief intermission imposed by the pandemic, between the opening piece of our Special Issue “Lyssaviruses and Rabies: Prevention, Control and Elimination” and this closing act of commentary [...]

A study to assess the knowledge regarding rabies prevention among general population of community residing at Pratap Nagar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Background: Rabies is a major public health issue. It is 10th biggest cause of death due to infectious disease worldwide and continues to be a burden for India with the country still registering around 18,000 to 20,000 cases of rabies every year. It is the only communicable disease of man that is always fatal. Domestic dogs are most common reservoir of virus, with 99% of human death caused by dog mediated rabies. Rabies is completely curable by early diagnosis and treatment regimen.Methods: Present study has been carried out among general population of community residing at Pratap Nagar, Jodhpur, and Rajasthan. Quantitative research approach was used to assess the knowledge regarding rabies prevention. Data was collected through self-structured interview schedule. Sixty samples were selected by non -probability convenient sampling technique.Results: In the study there were 60 subjects, in which male were 28 and female were 32. 7 subjects had excellent knowledge, 34 subjects had good knowledge, 17 subjects had average knowledge and 2 subjects had poor knowledge. No personal variable was found to be in association with level of knowledge at p<0.05 level of significance.Conclusions: The study indicates that awareness session on rabies prevention should be held regularly to improve the knowledge and create positive attitude and remove the misconception among general population.

Keys to good knowledge, attitude and practice on rabies prevention in disease-free communities

Many developing countries have recently faced public health challenges due to outbreaks of human rabies, while some areas have remained free from outbreaks of the disease. The aim of this study was to identify keys to good knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in rabies-free areas of Thailand to provide a functional model for rabies prevention in endemic zones. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire in conjunction with interviews that were designed to elicit relevant information. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and content analysis were used to interpret the data obtained from the questionnaire and interviews, respectively. The results gathered from 1,392 respondents and 36 interviewees indicated that age, education and the residential area of the subjects were associated with knowledge and practice, but not with attitude. Late midlife subjects reported good knowledge and practice scores due to some form of personal encounter with rabies and attendance at rabies meetings and campaigns, while secondary education levels or above were associated with higher knowledge and practice scores due to the inclusion of a rabies course in the secondary school curriculum. Moreover, the findings showed that a community using a form of public communication known as wired broadcasting had greater knowledge, and a community organizing comprehensive participatory activities had better practice. Ultimately, it was not only age, education and residential area, but also the integration of appropriate interventions and control measures by the authorities that proved beneficial in making good knowledge and practice more uniform throughout the communities included in the study.

Current issues and gaps in the implementation of rabies prevention in Ukraine in recent decades

Ukraine remains the only country in Europe where rabies is widespread among animals and humans. Annually there are about 1,600 rabies cases in animals in Ukraine and sporadic cases in humans have been registered despite the conducting of preventive measures. Therefore, the aim of the study was to inspect the failures in rabies prevention, indicate the top reasons for human cases and highlights the risk of animal attacks in view of their species and geographical distribution in Ukraine during 1996–2020. The following archival state materials were used for analysis: from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and from the annual reports of oblast departments of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection. In general, more than 84,000 people (187.4 per 100,000 of the population) were affected by bites or harmful contact with animals every year, among them, 2,155 people were victims of rabid animals. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was prescribed annually, on average, for 21,434 patients (25.5% of all victims). Most people were attacked by cats and dogs that had owners (71.5%). The frequency of the proportion of the risk of attacks by rabid dogs on humans was (1:124), from cats (1:25), wild animals (1:7), and farm animals (1:2), but the largest general proportion of animal attacks on people was from dogs – 838,635 attacks (77.7%). Thus, due to the permanently higher level of contact with people, attacks by dogs remains more dangerous. Geographically attacks on humans by domestic carnivores were observed most commonly in the east part of Ukraine due to the high urbanization of the region and the high density of the human population. A large number of attacks by foxes was observed in the west part of Ukraine due to the larger area of forests and fields. During the last 25 years, there have been 63 human rabies cases. The main sources of rabies were dogs (24 cases) and cats (22 cases). The main causes of development of rabies were: failure to receive the PEP due to the absence of a visit to a hospital after an attack of an animal (n = 38), failures in prescribing PEP (n = 15), failure of PEP (n = 10). In conclusion, the gaps in the control measures against rabies are the lack of agreed coordination of inter-sectoral links, the lack of significant efforts to raise public awareness and the lack of funding for prophylaxis programmes for humans and animals. Our future research will be aimed at modelling the transmission of rabies from the pet population to humans.