Rabies Outbreak among Livestock in a Pastoralist Community, Southern Ethiopia

Rabies still poses a significant health problem in most of African countries, where the majority of the cases result from dog bites. The situations in the marginalized pastoral areas were not well documented.

In September 2015, rabid wild fox entered the pastoralist village and bit a domestic dog. The victim dog had turned rabid after four months and bit livestock, and rabies outbreak occurred in the family livestock. Consequently, one bull, one lactating cow, one calf, two donkeys and one heifer died of outbreak. The head of one heifer was removed and transported within 24 hours to the Rabies Referral Laboratory of Ethiopian Public Health Institute in Addis Ababa. The sample was confirmed as strong positive for lyssa virus antigen by Direct Fluorescent Anti-Body Test. This was the first confirmed case report from southern Oromia pastoralists. The occurrence of rabies cases across the district was also reported by veterinary and human health officers.

Integrated intervention strategy and collaboration of animal health, human health and wildlife authority is needed. To halt the ongoing outbreak in the district, immediate response from the Government is recommended.