Rabies surveillance in the United States during 1998.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Rabies remains a significant zoonotic disease globally.
• Surveillance data is crucial for understanding rabies epidemiology and guiding control efforts.
• In 1998, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collected national rabies data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report and analyze the 1998 rabies surveillance data in the United States.
• To identify trends in rabies cases among different animal species and geographic regions.
• To assess the impact of rabies control measures and identify emerging concerns.

Main Methods:

• Data collection from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
• Analysis of reported rabies cases in both nonhuman animals and humans.
• Categorization of cases by species, geographic location, and rabies virus variant.

Main Results:

• A 6.5% decrease in total reported rabies cases (7,961 in animals, 1 in human) compared to 1997.
• Wild animals accounted for over 92% of cases; raccoons, skunks, and bats were primary reservoirs.
• Notable increases in rabies cases were observed in skunks, bats, and horses, with a significant rise in equine cases.
• Decreases in raccoon rabies epizootics were observed in several enzootic states, though some states reported increases.
• One human rabies case was linked to bat-associated rabies virus variants.

Conclusions:

• Overall rabies cases declined, but specific reservoirs like skunks, bats, and horses require continued monitoring.
• The epizootic of raccoon rabies showed signs of stabilization in some areas but persisted.
• Bat-associated rabies poses an ongoing risk, as evidenced by the human case.
• Effective rabies surveillance and control strategies remain critical for public health protection.