Study on epidemiological characteristics of rabies in Taizhuo, Zhejiang, 1950-2008

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics of rabies in Taizhou and provide scientific basis for the control and prevention of rabies MethodsThe data of rabies epidemic and sero-epidemiological and epidemiological survey of rabies in Taizhuo were collected and statistically analyzed by using Excel and descriptive epidemiology. ResultsA total of 111 rabies cases occurred in Taizhou from 1950 to 2008 with the case-fatality of 100%, and 25 occurred during 1981-1983, 86 occurred during 2001-2008. The Cases were reported in 8 counties and 58 townships. Rabies occurred all the year round, but the cases during July-December accounted for 65.12%. The majority of cases were farmers (63.95%), the people aged 30-69 years were mostly affected (68.60%), and the ratio of male to female was 1.26∶1. The cases with an incubation period of 1 year accounted for 86.58% and with an incubation period of 90 days accounted for 59.76%. The course of disease for most cases was within 7 days, 90.70% of cases were bitten by dog，62.79% of cases didn't receive post-exposure wound treatment, 81.39% of cases didn't receive rabies vaccination and 95.51% of cases didn't receive rabies immunoglobulin. The rabies antibody positive rate was 94.10% after rabies vaccination. Rabies virus antigen and antibody were detected from domesticated dogs. ConclusionThe rabies epidemic spread widely in Taizhou. The low immunization rate and peoples low awareness of rabies prevention knowledge were the major reasons for rabies epidemic.