[The epidemic situation of human rabies from 1984 to 2002 and its preventive measures in China].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize and analyze the epidemic situation of human rabies from 1984 to 2002 in China, and to explore the possible factors causing the increase of cases so as to provide evidence for preventive and control measures.


METHODS
National and some provincial data on the prevalence of rabies during 1984 to 2002 were collected and analyzed.


RESULTS
From 1984 to 1989, the annual reported cases were between 4 000 and 6 000 but decreased after 1990. In 1996, the reported cases decreased to the lowest level from 3 520 in 1990 to 159. However, number of reported cases has been continuously increasing since 1998 which reached 1 122 in 2002, a 7.06 times increase as compared to the number in 1996. The epidemic areas were mainly located in the southeast and southwest parts of the country, such as Sichuan, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Anhui, Fujian, etc. Furthermore, there was no significant seasonal distribution as it showed before.


CONCLUSIONS
Such facts as the increasing numbers of dogs, low inoculation rate to dogs, poor control on the quality of rabies vaccine, mistreatment to the wounds, and lacking good cooperation between different official departments regarding rabies control might serve as important factors responsible for the recurrence of rabies. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the above mentioned points and to take comprehensive preventive measures to bring down the prevalence of rabies in China.
Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
Yong-Zhen
YZ
Zhang
Dong-Lou
DL
Xiao
Yu-Hui
YH
Sun
Xiao-Ran
XR
Yang
Yan-Zhen
YZ
Yan
D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000592:standards; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors
D011819:Rabies Vaccines