A retrospective data on the number of confirmed animal rabies cases and applied rabies control measures over the period 2003-2009 were collected and analyzed to elucidate the situation of animal rabies in and around Addis Ababa. Over the last seven years, 2517 animals brain tissue samples from Dogs, Cats, Cattle, Horses, Donkeys, Shoats, Hyenas and Monkeys were examined for rabies using Fluorescent Antibody Test. Out of all samples examined, 76.9% (n=1936) were positive for rabies antigen. A statistically significant difference (χ 2 = 34.08(1), P<0.0001) in sample positivity was observed between male and female dogs, which seems higher proportion in males 79.2% as compared to 66.9% in females. Higher proportions of cases were confirmed in stray (86.3%) than owned dogs (73.5%). The difference was highly significant (χ 2 = 34.79(1), P<0.0001).There was highly significant difference (χ 2 = 46.73(1), P< 0.0001) in positivity on the vaccination status of dogs. The annual vaccination coverage varies from 1.8-3.8% during the last seven years. The annual confirmed number of rabies cases dropped in 2005 and 2007 during the last seven years rabies trend in and around Addis Ababa. Statistically significant difference was observed (F=11.65, P< 0.0001) in mean number of confirmed rabies cases among 12 calendar months, more number of animal rabies cases was confirmed in summer season.

No abstract

Rabies infection is almost always a 100% lethal viral disease in all mammals, including humans. Although more than 60,000 people worldwide are preventable, 2,700 people in Ethiopia die of fatal human rabies annually. The aim of this study was to generate strategic information on the extent of the burden of rabies and major response strategies in place, only to overcome and bring attention to the management of rabies outbreaks. The cross - sectional case - based study design was used to discuss the disease areas of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples ' Regional States of Ethiopia. Data analysis revealed a total of 16 fatal human rabies and 287 suspected rabies exposures. The highest attack rate of 116.3 cases per 100,000 human subjects was reported in Tembaro woreda. As a result, 48 animal deaths of rabies have been reported, while cattle (28) have been more affected than other animal species. The lack of dog immunization, lack of community awareness of dog management, and inaccessibility and inefficiency of anti - rabies vaccines were major risk factors associated with the spread of rabies exposure between humans and animals. In conclusion, this study has clearly shown that both the existence and the high magnitude of fatal human and animal rabies are significant in the area. Multidisciplinary approach interventions to increase community awareness of dog vaccination, effective and immediate treatment of exposed individuals is recommended as a method of disease control and prevention

No abstract