Retrospective Study on Rabies in Laellay Adiabo District of Tigrey, Ethiopia

Abstract

Retrospective study from records of human health center and veterinary clinic of the district was conducted to determined prevalence of rabies in the last five years (2009-2013) in Laellay Adiabo district of Tigrey, Ethiopia. A questionnaire was distributed to 60 randomly selected individuals. Of the animal case recorded, within the past five years, a total of 154 suspected cases of rabies were recorded at the veterinary clinic. 41.56% (64/154) of bovine rabies cases were presented to the veterinary clinic. On the other hand, of the human case recorded at the health center, a total of 62 suspected cases of rabies were recorded on the case book of the health center. In the last five years, out of the sixty two suspected human rabies cases, 31.66% (19/62) was presented to the health center of the district in the year 2013. Similarly males were more affected than females and 43.55% of the suspected cases were registered in the age range of greater than 15 years. Questionnaire survey revealed that 25% (15/60) had observed rabies cases in human and in different animals in their surroundings. 100% respondents replied that the transmission of rabies was through dog bite. 58.33%, 8.33% and 33.34% of the study individuals’ diagnosis rabid animals by salivation, barking the dogs and eating inanimate objects, respectively.