Epidemiology of human rabies in Shandong, 2006-2007

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological features of human rabies cases reported in Shandong province from 2006 to 2007 and the risk factors, and discuss the key strategies and measures for rabies prevention and control. MethodsDescriptive analysis were conducted on the data of human rabies cases reported from 2006 to 2007. ResultsA total of 270 human rabies cases were reported during this period, and the case-fatality was 100%. The occurrence of the cases were highly sporadic. The cases in farmers accounted for 83.33% of the total cases. The cases caused by dog bite accounted for 95.31% and the cases without vaccination after exposure accounted for 64.45%. The vaccination rate for the cases bitten by the animals raised by themselves was low. For the cases with wounds of III degree, 93.89% were not injected with rabies immunoglobulin. The incubation period for the cases bitten on head was shorter than the cases bitten on other sites. ConclusionThe priority of rabies prevention and control should be put in rural area. Management of dogs should be strengthened, and the eradication of stray dogs and the vaccination of domestic dogs should be implemented. Nonstandard post-exposure prophylaxis is one of the factors to cause rabies epidemic.