title: Human exposure to potential rabies virus transmitters in Olinda, State of Pernambuco, between 2002 and 2006.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the data on human exposure to potential rabies virus transmitters in Olinda, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Data from 7,062 patients who underwent antirabies prophylactic treatment in Olinda between 2002 and 2006 were analyzed. As expected, dogs and cats were involved in most of the cases; i.e. 82.3 and 16.3%, respectively. Attacks by nonhuman primates, bats and other species (unspecified) were also reported. Among the 7,062 patients who underwent antirabies treatment, 582 patients abandoned the treatment, either by indication from the health unit (195) or by their own decision (387). In conclusion, this study has indicated that prophylaxis for human rabies in this urban area will require a multifaceted approach, including health education, post-exposure prophylaxis, systematic vaccination for dogs and cats, and possibly selective control over wild animals such as hematophagous bats.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, PE, Brasil. fdt@cpqam.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dantas-Torres
authors.forename: Edmilson Ferreira de
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Filho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002685:Chiroptera; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011820:Rabies virus; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines