Endemic existence of rabies in Ethiopia.

The study on the prevalence of rabies was conducted on a retrospective data gathered from EHNRI rabies diagnostic laboratory Addis Ababa, in the years 1979-1987. During this period a total of 8036 animals were brought to the rabies diagnostic laboratory. Ninety one percent (7329) of these animals were dogs. The remaining 8.8% (707) comprised of cats, domestic animals (donkeys, cows, sheep) and wild animals (monkeys, jackals and hyenas). Out of 7329 dogs examined 832 were positive for rabies. Dogs accounted for the majority of animal rabies (94.01% of the total positive animals). The remaining 5.99% (53) of the animals diagnosed with rabies-comprised of cats, domestic animals and some wild animals. A total of 15,940 people were given post exposure anti-rabies prophylaxis treatment that came from different parts of the country in the years 1979-1987. The prevalence rates of rabies were found to be higher soon after dogs' breeding seasons. Such an observation indicates that among dogs infection, transmission through biting is significant during the breeding season. However, despite the high incidence of rabies in Ethiopia, only 320 people were reported to have died of rabies in the years 1979-1984. This supports, the hypothesis that there is a lack of appropriate reporting system on prevalence of rabies and its impact on humans in Ethiopia.