Situation of Rabies in Ethiopia: A retrospective study 1990-2000

The status of rabies in Ethiopia: A retrospective record review

“…This is in agreement with the previous works of Yimer and et al (12). This indicates that in spite of the initiation of the rabies diagnosis and post exposure treatment routine service delivery, dog bite and fatal human cases were not declining.…”

“…Hence, the interface of wild and domestic animals in grazing areas, water points and backyard waste disposal areas can facilitate the circulation of the virus in the country. This report is supported with previous records by Yimer et al (12), Fekadu (14) and Ayalew (18) that dogs are primary cause and cats are secondary for fatal human rabies cases and responsible in maintaining as well as dissemination of rabies in Ethiopia.…”

“…Thus, the current data collected at EHNRI during the observation period are compatible with the previous retrospective data compiled by Yimer et al (12), Ayalew (18) and Fekaku (14) which indicated the high proportion of fatal human rabies cases in Ethiopia.…”

“…Non-selective elimination of stray dogs to reduce the reservoir population is no longer recommended as a strategy against rabies by WHO (9), since it increases population turnover and decreases herd immunity (10), while public opposition to dog removal can lead to the failure of rabies control programs (11). In Ethiopia domestic dogs are the principal reservoir of rabies (12). Studies on dog ownership pattern and awareness of rabies in Addis Ababa showed that 90.7% of the dog owners manage dogs for the safeguarding of their properties from theft out of which 52% of them are with out regular vaccination (13).World human mortality from endemic canine rabies was estimated to be 55 000 deaths per year (90% CI: 24 500-90 800) with 56% of the deaths estimated to occur in Asia and 44% in Africa (14).…”

Retrospective study on rabies at selected districts of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

“…It was included in the list of transmissible diseases considered to be of socio-economic and economic and/or public health importance within countries (Hemachudha et al, 2002). The discovery of unique strain of rabies virus in the saliva of healthy looking dogs, the isolation of two rabies related viruses (Mokola and Lagos bat viruses) and the possibility of human to human transmission recorded for the first time in Ethiopia indicates the high risk of acquiring the disease (Yimer et al, 2002). There is no well organized information about rabies in Ethiopia, therefore, this study was conducted to depict the prevalence of rabies in the selected districts of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia and to assess community's knowledge about rabies and its prevention and control methods.…”