Human rabies in Brazil: a descriptive study, 2000-2017

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Human rabies remains a significant public health concern globally.
• Understanding the epidemiological profile is crucial for effective control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the epidemiological profile of human rabies in Brazil between 2000 and 2017.
• To estimate incidence and analyze the spatial distribution of cases.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive epidemiological study.
• Analysis of human rabies cases reported from 2000-2017.
• Estimation of incidence and spatial distribution.

Main Results:

• 188 cases were analyzed, predominantly affecting males (66.5%), rural residents (67.0%), and children under 15 (49.6%).
• Biting was the main exposure route (81.9%), with dogs (46.6%) and bats (45.9%) as primary vectors.
• Most cases occurred between 2000-2008 (85.6%), with a median incubation of 50 days. Fever, agitation, paresthesia, and dysphagia/paralysis were common symptoms.
• 70.2% of patients did not receive prophylaxis, and 29.8% received untimely or incomplete treatment. Two survivors were reported among 13 treated with the Recife Protocol.

Conclusions:

• Human rabies incidence has decreased, with a shift towards bat-transmitted cases.
• Investigation of secondary cases and pre-exposure prophylaxis for high-risk groups (e.g., bat-exposed populations) are recommended.