[Epidemiology of rabies in the Czech Republic]

In 1976 to 1988 on average some 4,323 +/- 482 subjects in the Czech Republic (i.e. 42.6 +/- 7.6/100,000 population) had contact with rabid or suspect animals, i.e. with dogs (73.3%), cats (15.9%), foxes (4.2%), other wild beasts (1.4%) and other animals (6.2%). Data on contact with suspect animals reported from different regions varied greatly. Post-exposition prophylaxis was started on average in 25% of the exposed subjects after contact with dogs in 44.5%, with cats in 24.7%, foxes in 12.6% and with other animals in 18.1% of the treated subjects. Groups of subjects exposed to the same animal (most frequently a cat or dog) or consumption of meat of infected animals accounted for 8% of all vaccinated subjects. During the period between 1974 and 1988 3,852 (22.9%) of exposed 16,845 subjects were treated in anti-rabies centres. From a group of 5,499 subjects 4,013 (73.0%) were injured: 1203 (21.9%) by a known (296, i.e. 5.4% by a rabid) and 2,810 (51.1%) by an unknown animal and the remainder of 1,486 subjects were exposed to suspect animals without being injured--in 1,154 cases (21.0%) to a known (958, i.e. 17.4% positive) and in 232 cases (6.0%) to unknown animals. Foxes accounted in indication for post-exposure prophylaxis for less than 10% and injured only for 1.1% of the vaccinated subjects. In anti-rabies centres most frequently subjects of productive age (44.7%) and school age (24.8%) were treated. The male/female ration was 3:2. Prophylaxis was started within 48 hours after exposure in 45% of the subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)