J Weyer1, V Dermaux-Msimang, A Grobbelaar, C Le Roux, N Moolla, J Paweska, L Blumberg. 1. Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa; Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa. jacquelinew@nicd.ac.za.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Human rabies cases continue to be reported annually in South Africa (SA). Previous investigations have shown the association between the occurrence of human rabies cases and dog rabies cases in the country. OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology of laboratory-confirmed human rabies cases in SA for the period 2008 - 2018. METHODS: A retrospective document review of laboratory-confirmed human rabies cases for the period 2008 - 2018 was performed using a case register and related documentation available from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. RESULTS: A total of 105 human rabies cases were laboratory confirmed from 2008 to 2018, with cases reported from all the provinces of SA except the Western Cape. Children and adolescents were most affected by the disease during the study period. In almost half of the cases, medical intervention was not sought after exposure. When victims did seek healthcare, deviations from post-exposure prophylaxis protocols were reported in some cases. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological trends of human rabies cases reported in SA for the period 2008 - 2018 remained largely the same as in previous reports. Dog-mediated rabies remains the main source of human rabies in SA.
BACKGROUND:Human rabies cases continue to be reported annually in South Africa (SA). Previous investigations have shown the association between the occurrence of human rabies cases and dog rabies cases in the country. OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology of laboratory-confirmed human rabies cases in SA for the period 2008 - 2018. METHODS: A retrospective document review of laboratory-confirmed human rabies cases for the period 2008 - 2018 was performed using a case register and related documentation available from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. RESULTS: A total of 105 human rabies cases were laboratory confirmed from 2008 to 2018, with cases reported from all the provinces of SA except the Western Cape. Children and adolescents were most affected by the disease during the study period. In almost half of the cases, medical intervention was not sought after exposure. When victims did seek healthcare, deviations from post-exposure prophylaxis protocols were reported in some cases. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological trends of human rabies cases reported in SA for the period 2008 - 2018 remained largely the same as in previous reports. Dog-mediated rabies remains the main source of human rabies in SA.
Authors: Brinkley Raynor; Elvis W Díaz; Julianna Shinnick; Edith Zegarra; Ynes Monroy; Claudia Mena; Micaela De la Puente-León; Michael Z Levy; Ricardo Castillo-Neyra Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2021-05-21
Authors: Andrea Haekyung Haselbeck; Sylvie Rietmann; Birkneh Tilahun Tadesse; Kerstin Kling; Maria Elena Kaschubat-Dieudonné; Florian Marks; Wibke Wetzker; Christa Thöne-Reineke Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-10 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Trisha A Whitbread; Kathleen J Kabuya; Nimesh Naran; Amilcar M Juggernath; Moushumi A Mathews; Lucille H Blumberg; Jacqueline Weyer; Vivien Essel Journal: S Afr J Infect Dis Date: 2022-09-13