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Published on: May 2, 2019
Human rabies in Tianjin, China
J P Montgomery1, Y Zhang, E V Wells
1Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. jpmont@umich.edu
Background:
Human rabies has recently re-emerged as a significant public health threat in Tianjin, China.
Methods:
Using surveillance data compiled by the Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we describe 60 cases of human rabies reported from 2005 to 2011 in the municipality of Tianjin, China.
Results:
All 60 cases of human rabies resulted in death. Cases were primarily male (80%), middle aged (mean 40.6 years), and exposed to rabies in a rural setting (82%). Most exposures were associated with dog bites (93%) and no animal had a history of rabies vaccination; no cases were laboratory confirmed. Fifteen percent of patients sought medical attention for their wound, and none received a complete regimen of WHO-recommended post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Conclusions:
These findings suggest the need for China's public health authority to improve animal rabies surveillance and control strategies through laboratory case confirmation, more rapid response to potential exposures with provision of appropriate PEP, and education to the public and to health care providers on identifying and reducing rabies risk.
