TRENDS IN DOG BITES AND HUMAN RABIES IN GREATER ACCRA REGION, GHANA

ABSTRACT

Background Rabies remain a public health threat although can be eliminated by vaccinating dogs which are major reservoirs of the disease and through pre and post-exposure prophylaxis in humans. Rabies is a fatal viral encephalitis disease which is untreatable when clinical symptoms develop. It is a neglected and old infectious zoonotic disease with fatality rate of 100%, worldwide distributed but more endemic area being in developing countries of Asia and Africa. In Ghana from 2000 to 2004 there were 123 clinically confirmed human cases reported by public health officers. Most rabies cases are not reported, due to lack of surveillance, laboratory infrastructure and also due to some cultural and social factors. The study aim was to describe the trends of dog bites and human rabies in Greater Accra region of Ghana from 2010 to 2014. Methods The record of human rabies cases and dog bites were reviewed from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Ridge regional hospital from 2010 to 2014. The results were expressed in frequencies, percentages, and in graphic forms. The STATA version 12 software was used for data analysis. Results

Human rabies and dog bites reported from 2010 to 2014 were 22 cases of human rabies from Korle-Bu teaching hospital and 233 dog bites from Ridge Hospital. The trends observed in this study did not show a clear pattern though the highest number of dog bites and human rabies were observed in 2014 while the lowest number of dog bites was observed in 2011 and for human rabies was year 2013. The male child (54.5%) less than fifteen years were more affected with the dog bites than adult, while more adult (50%) were affected by human rabies regardless of their age. Vaccine status was (94% ) for those

who reported to have dog bites before developing clinical symptoms and received recommended five post-exposure prophylaxis while 5% did not finish the vaccine and 1% did not take any vaccine. Conclusion The burden of dog bites and human rabies is still a public health problem in Greater Accra though the trend of the disease does not show a steady pattern