Rabies, Human - Kazakhstan, Tajikistan

RABIES, HUMAN - KAZAKHSTAN, TAJIKISTAN
**************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


[1] Kazakhstan South
Date: Tue 23 Dec 2008
Source: Kazakhstan Today News Agency [trans. by Corresp.BA, edited]


Fatal case of rabies in a child in Chimkent in Southern Kazakhstan
------------------------------------------------------------------
According to the Press Service of the Kazakhstan Ministry of
Emergency Situations a 4-year-old boy has been admitted to hospital
as a result of rabies in Chimkent. The information came from the
Sanitary Epidemiological Surveillance Center confirming that a child
had been hospitalized on 13 Dec 2008 with a preliminary diagnosis of
rabies. Despite intensive therapy, the child died on 22 Dec 2008 with
a confirmed diagnosis of rabies; 6 people who were in contact are
under observation.

--Communicated by:
ProMED-RUS


[This is the 3rd case of rabies in Chimkent during the past 3 months.
The previous 2 cases were reported in October [2008]; a 52-year-old
woman and a 21-year-old man died as a result of rabies virus
infection. The worst epizootic situation for rabies virus infection
is in the southern part of Kazakhstan (Chimkent in particular).
During the last 10 years more than 30 people have died as a result of
rabies in Kazakhstan. - Corresp.BA]

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Kazakhstan is available at:
-, showing the location
Chimkent close to the southern border with Kirgistan. - Mod.CP]

******
[2] Tajikistan
Date: Sat 27 Dec 2008
Source: AP Asia Plus News Agency [edited]


Tajik medical authorities concerned over increasing rabies cases
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tajik medical authorities are concerned over incre
asing number of rabies cases in the country. According to Navrouz
Jaffarov, head of the center for sanitary and epidemiologic
supervision within the Ministry of Health (MoH), 13 cases of rabies
have been registered in the country over the first 10 months of this
year [2008], which is 7 cases more than in the same period of last
year. Specialists note that in 70-80 percent of cases, the [fatal
outcome] is caused by delay in seeking medical aid [i.e. post-exposure
vaccination]. Another reason is insufficient financing of medical
facilities for purchase of necessary medical preparations and rabies
vaccines.

Rabies, also known as hydrophobia, is a viral zoonotic neuroinvasive
disease that causes acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in
mammals. It is most commonly caused by a bite from an infected
animal, but occasionally by other forms of contact. If left untreated
in humans it is almost invariably fatal. In some countries it is a
significant killer of livestock.

The rabies virus makes its way to the brain by following the
peripheral nerves. The incubation period of the disease depends on
how far the virus must travel to reach the central nervous system,
usually taking a few months. Once the infection reaches the central
nervous system and symptoms begin to show, the untreated infection is
almost inevitably fatal within days.

In non-vaccinated humans, rabies is almost invariably fatal after
neurological symptoms have developed, but prompt post-exposure
vaccination may prevent the virus from progressing. Rabies kills
around 55 000 people a year, mostly in Asia and Africa.

[Byline: Mavjouda Hasanova]

Rabies, Human, Bat - Brazil (Goias)

RABIES, HUMAN, BAT - BRAZIL (03): (GOIAS)
***************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: Thu 18 Dec 2008
Source: Globo.com [Portuguese, trans. Mod.TY, edited]


This Thursday [18 Dec 2008], the Health Secretariat in the Federal
District confirmed a case of human rabies in a child 9 years of age
hospitalized for 3 weeks in the Base Hospital. The disease was
confirmed by laboratory tests.

The boy is from Goias state and had been bitten by a bat in that
state. He was brought to the hospital in Brasilia, and his condition
was considered serious. He is in an induced coma in the pediatric ICU
and is undergoing a treatment developed by U.S. doctors.

According to Dr Antezana Disney, Secretary of Health Monitoring in
the DF, the hospitalization of the child does not bring risks of
transmission of the disease.

The Department of Health does not have numbers of human rabies cases
attended to in other states, only those cases of rabies contracted in
the DF; there is only one record from 1978. At the time, the person
died.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-PORT

[It will be interesting to see whether the patient survives, and, if
so, without serious neurological sequelae. A previous case in October
2008 (see ProMED archive no. 20081122.3689) did survive and was
treated according to the Wisconsin protocol that was developed to
treat a rabies case in Wisconsin, USA, who also survived (see ProMED
archive no 20041231.3459).

A map of Brazil showing the location of Goias state and the Federal
district can be accessed at
.
A HealthMAP/ProMED interactive map of Brazil can be accessed at
.
- Mod.TY]

submitted in the interests of improved public health by: Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. Air Animal Pet Movers .

Rabies, Human - United Kingdom : (Norther Ireland) ex South Africa

RABIES, HUMAN - UNITED KINGDOM (03): (NORTHERN IRELAND) ex SOUTH AFRICA
***********************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: Fri 19 De 2008
Source: Health Protection Agency Report, Vol. 2, No. 51 [edited]



Case of imported rabies in the UK
---------------------------------
A case of imported human rabies has been identified in Northern
Ireland. The diagnosis was confirmed by tests on samples sent to the
United Kingdom National Reference Laboratory for Rabies at the
Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Weybridge, Surrey. The patient had
worked as a volunteer with animals in South Africa for short periods
during the past 2 years, and had close contact with various animals
including dogs. Rabies is endemic in South Africa where bites from
infected dogs are the main source of rabies in humans.

In the last 10 years there have been 3 previous cases of imported
human rabies in the UK. Although an estimated 55 000 cases of
classical rabies occur worldwide each year, there has never been a
virologically confirmed case of natural human to human transmission
of rabies. Despite the lack of evidence for human to human
transmission, some people who have been exposed to the secretions of
a patient with rabies may be offered post-exposure immunisation,
purely as a precautionary measure.

If bitten, scratched, or licked by a warm blooded animal in a
rabies-endemic country, people should wash the wound or site of
exposure (e.g., mucous membrane) with plenty of soap and water and
seek medical advice without delay, even if previously vaccinated. If
they do not seek medical treatment while abroad, they should still
seek it when they come home, even if some time after the event.

Following exposure an individual risk assessment should be undertaken
to determine the need for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with rabies
vaccine and/or immunoglobulin. PEP is highly effective in preventing
rabies if given promptly and there have been no cases of rabies in
the UK in people who have received rabies post exposure prophylaxis.

Travellers should always be advised to seek travel health advice well
in advance of their visit overseas to ensure that the risks of all
travel associated illness, not just rabies, have been explained.
Although rabies vaccine is not routinely advised for all travellers,
pre-exposure immunisation is recommended for those:
- working abroad (e.g., veterinary staff or zoologists) who by the
nature of their work are at risk of contact with rabid animals;
- living in or travelling for more than one month to rabies-enzootic
areas unless there is reliable access to prompt, safe medical care;
- travelling for less than one month to enzootic areas but who may
be exposed to rabies because of their travel activities;
- those who would have limited access to post-exposure medical care.

This advice should be specifically brought to the attention of those
planning to do voluntary work with animals in rabies-endemic areas.

Further information on rabies prevention for the traveller is
available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre at:
. Detailed
information on rabies is available in chapter 27 of the Green Book [1].

Reference:
----------
(1) DH. Immunisation against infectious disease ("the Green Book").
Available at:
.

posted in the interest of the traveling public; by Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. .. Principal Owner & Managing Director - Air Animal Pet Movers .. providing relocating pet owners with pet moving logistics and solutions.

Rabies, Human, Canine - Kyrgyzstan (Jalal-Abad_

RABIES, HUMAN, CANINE - KYRGYZSTAN (JALAL-ABAD)
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 17 Dec 2008
Source: Regnum News Agency [trans. by Corr.BA, edited]



Fatal case of rabies
--------------------
In the south of Kyrgyzstan a teenager who contracted rabies has died.
A 12-year-old boy from Sahaydan village in the Jalal-Abadsky Oblast
had been bitten by a rabid dog.

The press service of the Emergencies Ministry stated that physicians
have screened 657 families, and the veterinary service has vaccinated
a total of 158 cattle, 83 small ruminants, and 646 dogs and cats.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-RUS


[This is not 1st case of rabies in a child in Kyrgyzstan in 2008.
This year 8 children and 2 adults have died of rabies in southern
Kyrgyzstan. It testifies to insufficient awareness of the population
concerning prevention of this disease. - Corr.BA.

A map of Kyrgyzstan showing Jalal-Abad in the south of the country is
available at:
. - Mod.CP]

submitted in the interest of global pet health issues by: Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. .. the principal owner & managing director of Air Animal Pet Movers .... based in Tampa, Florida ... providing relocating pet owners with pet moving solutions as they relocate.

Rabies, Russia .. sobering numbers to consider

RABIES, ANIMAL - RUSSIA: (NOVOSIBIRSKAYA OBLAST
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: Sun 14 Dec 2008
Source: Gorod54 News Agency [translated by Corr.ATS, edited]



Animal rabies and rabies control in the Novosibirskaya Oblast
-------------------------------------------------------------
In total 128 000 cats and dogs and more than 70 000 cattle have been
vaccinated in the Novosibirkaya Oblast. Since the beginning of this
year 64 rabies cases have been registered among wild and domestic
animals in the Novosibirskaya Oblast. These cases are from 56 places
in 20 rural regions and in the Novosibirsk [city] region itself.
Rabies has been laboratory confirmed in 39 foxes, 10 dogs, 8 cattle,
3 cats, 2 rats, 1 sheep and 1 raccoon dog. Most cases were observed
in the Toguchinski region.

The incidence of rabies in foxes has increased in the Moshkovsoe,
Kupinsoe, Tatarskoe regions compared to data for the previous month.
For the 1st time a case has occurred in the the Kuybishevskoe region.
According to surveillance data released by the Oblast branch of
Rosselkhoznadzor [the Federal Service for Veterinary and
Phytosanitary Surveillance] 128 000 dogs and 70 000 cattle have been
vaccinated as a preventive measure.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-RUS


[The detection of rabies virus infection in rats is unusual and
further details of the circumstances would be appreciated.

An interactive map of Russia showing the location of the
Novosibirskaya Oblast can be accessed at:
. - Mod.CP]

provided by Air Animal Pet Movers for relocating pet owners to understand the global ramifications and implications of Rabies in the wildlife.

Rabies, canine, human - Indonesia (Bali Alert)

... Bali, previously conisedered as "Rabies Free", no longer can make that claim.

... Western Auatralis health authorities have warned visitors to Bali to avoid direct contact with animals (dogs, monkeys, cats, etc) while on the island.

... the Kuta area is noted to have incidences of confirmed cases in both dogs and several humans .. the disease being always fatal to those infected with the Rabies virus, from either a direct bite or from a scratch. Once symptoms develop -- headaches, fevers, tingling, confusion, and difficulty in swallowing -- the outcome is pedictable ---- death results.

... submitted by Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. .. principal owner & managing director .. Air Animal Pet Movers, of Tampa,Florida .. the relocating pets best friend since 1977.

... source of information: ABC News online (edited)

Indonesia & attempts to control Rabies

... ny good friend, Dr Deborah Briggs, the executive director of the Alliance for Rabies Control in Edinburgh, Scotland, along with Dr Henry Wilde of the Chulalongkorn Univerity in Bangkok, Thailand commented recently in a posting to Pro-Med Mail of the failed attempts to control rabies outbreaks by the mass culling of dogs in enzootic areas of Rabies outbreaks.

... experience has shown over the years of attempts to cull large dog populations, e.g. 500,000 at a time are to no avail. Rabies continues to be a problem especially on those islands where extermination programs have taken place. Not only is the culling of large dog populations gruesome and barbaric, it will not reduce the incidence of Rabies.

... what does work is the vaccination of at least 70 % of the prevailing dog population along with the continual monitoring of disease outbreaks.

... the above is an abstract of an original article: Pro-Med posting 20081204.3821
"Rabies, canine, human - Indonesia (03):(Bali)"

... submitted in the interests of better animal health & Rabies control by Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. .. Principal Owner, and Managing Director ... Air Animal Pet Movers, Tampa, Florida

Rabies, Human, Argentina ( Jujuy ) .... origin Bolivia

. July of 2008 saw a dog entering Argentina from Bolivia, where a case of Rabies in a human was reported for the first time in 20 years.

.. a bite from the dog to a young boy resulted in the death of the child on 16 November 2008, after neurological symptoms developed in the boy on 10 November 2008.

... this is the first case of reported Rabies in Buenos Aires, Argentina since 1981.

.... isolation of the rabies virus indicated it to be the classical street strain of the virus.

..... ring immunization of dogs along with continued survelliance is being carried out to prevent further cases of Rabies in both animals and people.

submitted by Dr Walter Woolf, the veterinarian founder of Air Animal Pet Movers, the relocating pets best friend since 1977.

Human survival, Bat Bite - Brazil - Milwaukee protocol

. what appears to be a survival from an aggressive bat bite, loaded with Rabies virus, has been reported in the municipality of Floresta, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

.. a 15 year old boy bitten by a an aggresive bat, reported symptoms of Rabies on 06 October 2008, with transfer to a medical center on 10 October 2008.

... on 11 October 2008 the young lad was transferred to the intensive care unit, and was placed in a drug induced come, known as the Milwaukee protocol, where in 2004 the protocol was used on a patient (a 15 year old girl with neurogical symptoms) to become the first recorded case of recovering from Rabies where neurological symptoms had developed.

.... on 30 October 2008, the patient was brought out of the drug induced coma; now reported on 11 November 2008 to be unsedated and clinically stable.

..... reported by Dr Walter Woolf (V.M.D.).. the veterinarian owner and founder of Air Animal Pet Movers, of Tampa, Florida, the relocating pets best friend. The source of this information can be found on the following web site --- http://www.promedmail.org ----

Fox Rabies, north eastern Italy, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia area

... the border close to Slovenia & Austria has yielded a rabid fox, according to reports from the national reference laboratory in Italy.

.... a person hiking in the forested area was attacked by the fox. Although uncommon to find rabies in this part of Italy, the last reported case was 1992. Presently, Italy has been determined to be rabies free since 1995.

.... authorities believe the rabid fox entered the forested alpine area from either Slovenia or Austria.

..... control measures, i.e., oral rabies vaccine for the areas foxes, restriction of the movement of dogs, and compulsory vaccination of domestic animals in the area who graze the forested regions are being implemented.

...... submitted by Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. .. principal owner, & managing director, Air Animal Pet Movers .. www.airanimal.com

Cattle Rabies, Colombia, human exposure, vampire bats

... four farms have reported the incidence of cattle rabies, spread by vampire bats. The cases have been reported in the rural area of San Cayetano (San Juan Nepomuceno) and in the adjacent area of Montes de Mario region.

... the feeding habits of vampire bats who harbor the rabies virus are such that when the bats feed upon either cattle or horses, the saliva of the vampire bat is loaded with rabies virus, subsequently infecting the animals.

... ocassional human exposure takes place; as cases of vampire bats who have inflicted wounds upon humans has resulted in reported cases of rabies in humans.

... farmers and cattlemen in the affected regions have been urged to vaccinate their livestock with suitable rabies vaccine.

..... submitted by Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. ..... principal owner and managing director, Air Animal Pet Movers, Tampa, Florida ... www.airanimal.com ...

Metro Denver reports skunk rabies - Sloan's Lake area

... a rabid skunk has been identified having originated from the Sloan's Lake area -- northwest of Denver.

.... the rabies virus found in the skunks brain tissue was that of bat variant strain.

..... the skunk is a highly efficient transmitter of rabies virus; as the skunks saliva contains large amounts of the live rabies virus.

...... pet owners in the norhtwest Denver metro area are urged to be vigilant as well as having their domestic pets current on their Rabies immunizations.

submitted by Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. ... , director ... Air Animal Pet Movers

Rabies, Bat, Human Exposure - Montana, USA

... a well intentioned mom brought a dead bat to her child's school in Montana recently. The result is that over 90 students who had touched the bat in 5 separate classrooms will undergoe the anti-Rabies vaccine at the Stevensville Elementary School.

... the cost of the six doses of Rabies vaccine per child could surpass a cost of USD$150,000 .. with the school paying up to USD$70,000 through its liability insurance.

... suffice it to say, the school district has set a policy of having school visitors obtain a pass to enter the school and its classrooms.

... submitted by: Walter M Woolf, V.M.D. .. veterinarian, and the owner of Air Animal Pet Movers, Tampa, Florida .. the relocating pets best friend, since 1977.