Epidemiological Study of Animal Bites and Rabies in Lorestan Province in West of Iran During 2004-2014 for Preventive Purposes.
BACKGROUND
Despite the progress made, animal bites and rabies are one of the important health problems in the country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of animal bites and rabies during 2004-2014 in Lorestan Province to prevent them in population of the province for the future prospective aspects.


METHODS
In a descriptive cross-sectional study, all those cases bitten in the province, during 2004 and 2014, were studied. The required information about the age, sex, the bitten organ, type of the invasive animal time, and location of the event were collected in questionnaires and then analyzed.


RESULTS
The total number of cases of animal rabies during the period of study was 43,892, shown at the rate of 223.23 in 100,000 people. Seventy-eight percent of animal bites in rural areas, 41.42% in the ages 10-29-year-old, 26.8% of cases were students, 56.77% leg bites, and 82.5% of dog bites. Four cases of human rabies were observed during this period.


CONCLUSIONS
Rate of animal bites and rabies is high in Lorestan Province. Controlling animals such as dogs and cats in the province through training people at risk, especially among the students, rural areas and inter-sectorial coordination to eliminate stray animals should be considered over and over. Preventive actions to avoid bites are a priority.
Department of Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Vice-Chancellery for Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Ali Chegeni
AC
Sharafi
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Mohammad Javad
MJ
Tarrahi
Department of Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Vice-Chancellery for Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Mohammad
M
Saki
Department of Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Vice-Chancellery for Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Mohammad Mirza
MM
Sharafi
Infectious Diseases Ward, Shahid Madani Hospital, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Elham
E
Nasiri
Department of Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, Vice-Chancellery for Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Hamid
H
Mokhayeri
Animal bites; Iran; Lorestan; epidemiology; rabies
Trop Doct. 2014 Oct;44(4):226-9
24662365
Arch Iran Med. 2012 Jun;15(6):356-60
22642245
J Educ Health Promot. 2013 Mar 31;2:13
24083263
Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2014 Dec 29;28:158
25695016
Epidemiol Infect. 2003 Aug;131(1):777-90
12948379
Bull World Health Organ. 2005 May;83(5):360-8
15976877
World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2013;(982):1-139, back cover
24069724
East Mediterr Health J. 2009 Mar-Apr;15(2):455-7
19554994
J Clin Diagn Res. 2015 Dec;9(12):LC01-5
26816921
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2015;22(1):76-9
25780832
Arch Iran Med. 2008 Mar;11(2):200-2
18298299
Dev Biol (Basel). 2008;131:207-11
18634481
J Infect Public Health. 2008;1(1):51-5
20701846