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Survey of animal bite injuries and their management for an estimate of human rabies deaths in N ’Djaména, C had
Author(s) -
Frey J.,
Mindekem R.,
Kessely H.,
Doumagoum Moto D.,
Naïssengar S.,
Zinsstag J.,
Schelling E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12202
Subject(s) - rabies , animal bites , medicine , vaccination , incidence (geometry) , dog bite , veterinary medicine , confidence interval , rabies vaccine , environmental health , poison control , pediatrics , rabies virus , immunology , virology , physics , optics
Objective To estimate the annual human rabies incidence as a baseline prior to mass dog vaccination campaigns in N'D jaména, C had. Methods Survey of animal bites, involving 50% of all healthcare providers in N'D jaména, from September 2008 to April 2009. Of 86 people exposed to a suspected rabid animal, 50% received post‐exposure vaccination and a further 8% had their wound cleaned. We estimated annual incidence of bites from suspected rabid animals of 12.9/100 000 and an incidence of 0.7 human rabies deaths/100 000, resulting in 7 estimated deaths (95% confidence interval 4–10 deaths) per year in N'D jaména. 14% of bite victims sought help from veterinarians. Conclusions Closer cooperation between physicians and veterinarians warrants more effective rabies control. The high proportion (42%) of potentially exposed people without post‐exposure vaccination or wound treatment necessitates urgent attention.