Rabies exposures, post-exposure prophylaxis and deaths in a region of endemic canine rabies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Thousands of human deaths from rabies occur annually despite the availability of effective vaccines following exposure, and for disease control in the animal reservoir. Our aim was to assess risk factors associated with exposure and to determine why human deaths from endemic canine rabies still occur.

Methods and findings

Contact tracing was used to gather data on rabies exposures, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) delivered and deaths in two rural districts in northwestern Tanzania from 2002 to 2006. Data on risk factors and the propensity to seek and complete courses of PEP was collected using questionnaires. Exposures varied from 6-141/100,000 per year. Risk of exposure to rabies was greater in an area with agropastoralist communities (and larger domestic dog pop

SUBMITTER: Hampson K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2582685 | biostudies-literature | 2008

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature