Human rabies in Tianjin, China

Background Human rabies has recently re-emerged as a significant public health threat in Tianjin, China. Methods Using surveillance data compiled by the Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we describe 60 cases of human rabies reported from 2005 to 2011 in the municipality of Tianjin,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of public health (Oxford, England) England), 2012-12, Vol.34 (4), p.505-511
Main Authors: Montgomery, J.P., Zhang, Y., Wells, E.V., Liu, Y., Clayton, J.L., Wang, X., Boulton, M.L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Animals
Bites
Bites and Stings - virology
Child
Child, Preschool
China
China - epidemiology
Data processing
Disease control
Dog Diseases - epidemiology
Dog Diseases - prevention & control
Dog Diseases - transmission
Dog Diseases - virology
Dogs
Female
Health Protection
Humans
Laboratories
Male
Middle Aged
Population Surveillance
Prophylaxis
Public health
Rabies
Rabies - drug therapy
Rabies - mortality
Rabies - prevention & control
Rabies Vaccines - administration & dosage
Rabies Vaccines - therapeutic use
Surveillance
Vaccination
Wounds
Young Adult
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Summary:Background Human rabies has recently re-emerged as a significant public health threat in Tianjin, China. Methods Using surveillance data compiled by the Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we describe 60 cases of human rabies reported from 2005 to 2011 in the municipality of Tianjin, China. Results All 60 cases of human rabies resulted in death. Cases were primarily male (80%), middle aged (mean 40.6 years), and exposed to rabies in a rural setting (82%). Most exposures were associated with dog bites (93%) and no animal had a history of rabies vaccination; no cases were laboratory confirmed. Fifteen percent of patients sought medical attention for their wound, and none received a complete regimen of WHO-recommended post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Conclusions These findings suggest the need for China's public health authority to improve animal rabies surveillance and control strategies through laboratory case confirmation, more rapid response to potential exposures with provision of appropriate PEP, and education to the public and to health care providers on identifying and reducing rabies risk.
ISSN:1741-3842
1741-3850
DOI:10.1093/pubmed/fds041