Human Rabies Exposure in Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia: A Five-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Rabies is a deadly public health disease with worldwide distribution and transmitted commonly from the bite of an infected animal. Its impact in Ethiopia is underestimated making rabies prevention and control difficult. This five- years (2014-2018) retrospective health facility data-based study was conducted to quantify and compare the incidence of dog bite cases at Saint Marry hospital, Axum, Central Zone of Tigray from January 2019 to June 2019. A majority of the animal bite exposed reports were males (1398/2404, 58.15%) and >15 years of age (1374/2404, 57.16 %). Axum town (20.17%), Laelay Maichew (12.35%), Tahtay Maichew (11.23%), N/Adiet (10.9%), Mereb Leke (5.12%), Werie Leke (4.58%), Adwa (4.53%), Ahferom (3.24%) and Kolla Tembien (0.21%) had the largest prevalence of dog bite cases, respectively. September (10.02%), July (9.48%), and February (9.40%) were months with the highest incidence at the five consecutive study years. However, rabies suspected cases were fluctuating with age in both male and female individuals throughout the five years of the study period. The incidence of dog bite cases per 100,000 of populations fluctuates from a high of 63/100,000/year in 2015 and with an overall average of 44/100,000/year. The study discovered the highest annual incidence of dog bite in the month of September. As well as, highest annual incidence of dog bite was recorded from Male and above 15 years aged peoples in the central zone of Tigray. Vaccination of dogs in early august before their breeding period and immediate awareness creation of the risk groups about dog bite and provision of post-exposure vaccines can be implemented as prevention and control strategies.