title: Epidemiology of animal bites and other potential rabies exposures and anti-rabies vaccine utilization in a rural area in Southern Ethiopia.
abstract: The presented report describes the epidemiology of potential rabies exposures and examines the utilization of anti-rabies vaccine in a rural area of Ethiopia during a period of 43 months. A total of 683 persons (51.1% females, 73% children) with animal- related bites were included in the retrospective, registry-based study. The most common site of exposure was the leg (66.8%). In children under 8 years of age the face was more often involved than in adults (9.5% vs. 4.8%; p=0.03). The main type of exposure was a bite with bleeding (66.3%) followed by contamination of mucous membranes with saliva (19.7%). The primary sources were dogs (93.4%) followed by cats (2.6%). Children under 15 years were more likely to be exposed to dogs (94.9%) than adults (88.7%) (p=0.01). The most common way of coming in contact with animals was 'walking by' (83.9%). Children came in contact with animals while 'playing with' (10.7%) more often than adults (1.1%) (p<0.001). All the patients received an anti-rabies nervous-tissue vaccine, 99% of whom completed the vaccination course. Animal bites continue to be a problem in rural Ethiopia, mainly among children. Efforts to protect children against animal bites must be of paramount importance in preventing rabies in this population.
authors.affiliation: nfectious Diseases Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Alicante, Spain; Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Napoleón
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Melendez
authors.affiliation: Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Ganamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gudiso
authors.affiliation: Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Dejene
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biru
authors.affiliation: Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Gamadi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fano
authors.affiliation: Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Gulelat
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aberra
authors.affiliation: Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Dalu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tessema
authors.affiliation: Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tesfamariam
authors.affiliation: Gambo General Rural Hospital, Shashemane, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Seble
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balcha
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Alicante, Spain; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Félix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines