An epidemiological investigation of the rabies between 1999-2008 in Yancheng city,Jiangsu province / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To better understand the epidemiology of rabies during the past ten years in Yancheng city,Jiangsu province. Methods Data was collected and analyzed on rabies cases in Yancheng. Density and vaccination rate on Canine,Rate of injured people bit by dogs,and the information of post-exposure prophylaxis were studied. Rabies virus in the dog brains,collected around the epidemic areas of Yancheng,were detected and analyzed. Results A total of 135 human rabies cases occurred from 1999 through 2008,and formed the second epidemic peak since 1958. Of these victims,84% (114) were farmers. In general,the rate of people having dogs were 3%-6% per 100 people,and the injured person-times of 100 dogs were 6.37 per year. Notably,the vaccination rate of dogs was only 20%. Of those people injured by dogs and other animals,77% had received post-exposure treatment,and only 5%-10% had been administered anti-rabies serum. Rabies virus antigen was found in 4 (3.6%) of 111 brain specimens among dogs collected from epidemic areas. Genetic analysis of N and G genes,which were amplified from brain specimens,indicated that these viruses belong to genotype Ⅰ rabies and expressing a close relationship with the Chinese vaccine strain CTN. Conclusion The large number of dogs with low vaccination rate among them,together with the incorrect and low post-exposure treatment in rural areas seemed to be responsible for the outbreak of rabies in Yancheng city.