Rabies in Morocco: Epidemiological Aspects and Post-exposure Prophylaxis Management

Background Rabies is a zoonosis transmitted accidentally to humans and is fatal once clinical signs appear. In Morocco, rabies remains a difficult disease to eradicate, with dogs being the main source of contamination. Transmission of this illness can be avoided by promptly implementing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) following animal exposure. Inappropriate or delayed PEP increases the risk of acute infection. This study aims to describe and analyze the characteristics of exposure, investigate the factors related to delay in initiating PEP, and evaluate the attitudes and practices of patients towards animal exposure in the region of Ouarzazate between 2016 and 2019. Methods This was a retrospective study with statistical analysis. The data on animal exposure was collected from the Anti-Rabies Center (ARC) located in Ouarzazate Province, Morocco. Results A predominance of male cases (61.3%) among victims of animal exposure was found. The age group of five to 14 years was the most affected (23.5%). The upper limb represented the most frequent site of exposure (49.4%). Around 52.1% of patients presented with multiple lesions. About 54.4% of cases were bitten by a stray animal. Dogs were responsible for 47.8% of the bites. All exposed individuals performed wound cleansing prior to arrival at the ARC. Post-exposure prophylaxis was initiated in 34.5% of cases between 24 to 48 hours, while 26.1% of cases delayed it beyond 48 hours. Around 34% of patients did not complete their vaccination schedule. Regarding the factors associated with the delay in PEP, we found significant associations with patient age, place of residence (urban or rural), distance from the ARC (>30 km or <30 km), nature, number, and injury status (p≤0.05). Significant associations (p≤0.05) were also found with dog bites and their type (domestic or stray). Conclusion Our findings indicate that better awareness about rabies and PEP management is needed, especially among the rural population.