Prevalence of rabies in various species in yemen and risk factors contributing to the spread of the disease.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to describe for the first time the prevalence of the passively-reported rabies virus among different domestic and wild animals submitted to the Central Veterinary Laboratory from various areas in Yemen, and to study prevalence proportion ratios (PPR) that contributed to the spread of rabies among animals, and its transmission to humans.


METHODS
A brain sample was obtained from each of the 180 animals and tested for rabies virus by a direct fluorescent antibody test.


RESULTS
Out of the total number of animals involved in attacks on humans, 63.3 % were positive for rabies. Of these, dogs were the main animal involved in attacks with a percentage of 92%, of which 62.7% were positive for rabies. Of animals involved in attacks, 70.6% were males of which 60.6% were positive, and 29.4% were females of which 69.8% were positive. Males comprised 68.9% of the total human individuals attacked, of whom 62.9% were attacked by rabies-positive animals. The significant risk factors that contributed to the spread of rabies in general included the presence of poultry carcasses and other waste in the vicinity of the attacks (PPR = 9.5) with a percentage of 84.8%, followed by the time of year, in particular school vacations (PPR = 3.8) with a percentage of 78%.


CONCLUSION
Rabies is endemic in Yemen with a very high rabies-positive rate for animals involved in attacks, particularly for stray male dogs. Male children were most often involved in attacks by rabies-positive animals. The presence of food waste (particularly poultry carcasses) and school vacation periods were found to correlate significantly with increased risk for human exposure to rabies.
Temporal and spatial distributions of animal and human rabies cases during 2012 and 2018, in Tunisia
Abstract Rabies is one of the most important zoonosis in Tunisia. In the last 6 years, a dramatic increase in the number of cases in animals had raised concern about the transmission dynamics of rabies and the effectiveness of established control measures. For a better understanding of the epidemiological features of rabies in Tunisia, data on animal and human rabies cases and post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) protocol, for the period from 2012 to 2018, were analysed to describe the spatial and the temporal distributions of the disease and to guide targeted rabies control measures. Thus, the analysed data have shown that 2,642 animal and 25 human rabies cases were recorded between 2012 and 2018; only few case numbers were reported in wildlife. Time‐related distribution showed that the incidence of dog rabies increases over the period of study, from 24,8/100,000 dog population in 2012 to 35,2/100,000 dog population in 2018. Dog seems to be the main reservoir of rabies as it accounted for more than 59% of the animal confirmed cases and the source for more than 80% of the human confirmed cases. Geographical distribution of animal rabies cases revealed the presence of clusters in the North and the Center of Tunisia; only a little number of animal cases were reported in the South. In contrast, the overall human rabies incidence was 0.03 per 100,000 population, during the period of the study. We have found that the incidence of human rabies increases by 13.6% from 2012 to 2015 and drops steadily by 23.41% over the second period (2015 to 2018). A high number of PEP was recorded during the 7‐year period, with an average of 360 PEP per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Spatial analysis revealed the presence of clusters of PEP in the Northern and Central governorates. The present study pointed out the need to review the control strategy of rabies in Tunisia and conduct further studies on dog population to provide the basis for a new and efficacious policy of interventions and control program for rabies.
Hospital records of human rabies and antirabies prophylaxis in Nigeria 1969-78.
Abstract A survey of human rabies and antirabies prophylaxis was carried out in Nigeria by the use of questionnaires, and review of hospital records and case notes. 169 cases of laboratory or clinically diagnosed human rabies were recorded from 38 hospitals and five state epidemiological units over a 10-year period. 167 (99%) were bitten by dogs, one by a cat and one by a monkey in captivity. Rabies was more frequently encountered in children aged 19 years and under, 70% of cases occurring in this age group. A higher incidence of the disease was also found in the low socio-economic or illiterate group. The lack of awareness of the consequences and seriousness of the disease coupled with the inadequate facilities for post-exposure anti-rabies treatment in rural areas account for the higher rates of rabies in this group. The monthly distribution of the disease shows that more cases of rabies occurred in man during the dry months of the year due to higher incidence of canine rabies during the same period. A total of 7,549 victims of animal bites received post-exposure anti-rabies treatment from 38 hospitals over a 10-year period. The survey also revealed that apart from the normal post-exposure antirabies vaccination, other forms of treatment are sought by dog-bite victims. The dependence on such treatment may contribute to the relatively high incidence of rabies in Nigeria. These studies also show that the antirabies vaccination rate in Nigeria is about 40 to 62 per 100,000 people per annum. The poor state of record keeping, the acute shortage of antirabies vaccine and the failure of some patients to report to hospitals following dog-bites may explain the low rate of post-exposure antirabies vaccination.