SITUATION OF RABIES IN A SOUTHWESTERN STATE OF NIGERIA: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY (1997-2007)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51406/jagse.v9i1.1066Keywords:
Rabies, Animals, Humans, Retrospective studyAbstract
Retrospective data from 1997 – 2007 on reported cases of rabies in human and animals as well as antirabies vaccination were collected from medical records and epidemiological sections of the various veterinary and human hospitals in the four socio-cultural zones of Ogun State. Suspected cases of rabies were reported in animals with 8 (88.90%) in dogs and 1(11.10%) in goat. The study revealed that most cases occurred in the rainy season with August having the highest number of cases (38.3%). Similarly, 12 cases were reported in humans with 8(66.7%) males and 4(33.3%) in females. Children between the ages 0-12 years accounted for 75% of all reported human rabies cases while 25% occurred in Adults. Dogs were the only species implicated in these cases resulting into 100% mortality. Routine antirabies vaccinations were conducted for 4,781 dogs and highest exposure was recorded for Egba Zone (62.85%) and lowest for the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Abeokuta (1.05%). In conclusion, accurate record keeping on rabies cases in Animals and Humans as well as vaccination exposure are hereby recommend in order to give the true picture of rabies in Nigeria. Also mass vaccinations, control of stray dogs, public education on rabies and government subsidies on cost of vaccination are also recommended.
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