Rabies, Feline - USA (New Mexico)

RABIES, FELINE - USA (NEW MEXICO)
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A ProMED-mail post

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


Date: 20 Feb 2009
Source: Silver City Sun News [edited]


A 2nd bobcat in the region has tested positive for rabies, the New Mexico
Department of Health reported on Thursday [19 Feb 2009] afternoon. The
bobcat was discovered dead just east of Lake Roberts on 11 Feb 2009 and was
confirmed rabies-positive on Thursday [19 Feb 2009].

The bobcat was the 2nd rabid bobcat found within 5 days. The 1st bobcat
attacked an unvaccinated dog in Mimbres on 6 Feb 2009 and was confirmed
rabies-positive on 11 Feb 2009. The bobcat was shot by the landowner.

"It's unusual to see these kinds of cases," said Chris Minnick, New Mexico
Department of Health public information officer. According to state public
health veterinarian Dr Paul Ettestad, the bobcats were most likely infected
by rabid foxes.

New Mexico Game and Fish wildlife conservation officer John Armijo said he
and his staff have held discussions on the prevention of rabies in foxes
and bobcats but have not yet come to any conclusions. "We haven't come up
with anything affirmative yet," he said. Armijo said he wasn't alarmed by
the 2 rabid bobcats. "Obviously, rabies has been around for awhile," he
said. "It's a lot more prevalent right now" due to the large number of
animals. Two foxes in Grant County have tested positive for rabies in 2009.
Last year [2008], there were 28 cases of rabies in New Mexico, including 18
foxes and one dog in the southwestern area of New Mexico. There were 14
foxes and one dog with rabies in Grant County, 2 foxes in Catron County and
one fox in Sierra and Hidalgo counties, according to the Department of Health.

Rabid foxes have been a problem for decades in Arizona, but were 1st
detected in New Mexico in the Glenwood area of Catron County in 2007.
"Grant County residents need to be vigilant in their efforts to prevent
rabies from affecting their families and their pets," Ettestad said in a
prepared statement. "Rabies is a fatal disease that can be prevented with
vaccination but cannot be cured once it has been diagnosed." If anyone sees
a suspicious looking or dead animal, they are encouraged to call Armijo at
(575) 534-4023 or the Santa Fe central dispatch at (505) 827-9376.

[byline: Holly Wise]

communicated by:
ProMED-mail rapporteur Susan Baekeland

[Inaccurate statements from the above article have been edited out. Rabies
is a viral infection. There are different strains of the virus, but it is
always possible to transmit rabies from an infected animal to a
non-infected animal or person.

Generally with an animal, the brain or the whole head is sent to the state
laboratory for confirmation of rabies. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia usually only does strain typing of the
rabies virus.

There are a number of strains of the virus: skunk strain, raccoon strain,
bat strain and others. No strain is confined to the species it is named
for. For example, the bobcat could have died of raccoon or bat strains of
rabies. It would be useful to know which strains are circulating in the area.

It seems the trend of rabies is increasing in New Mexico. Perhaps the state
should initiate a rabies campaign to remind owners to vaccinate their dogs,
cats, horses and other show animals, as all mammals are susceptible to the
rabies virus. The state may want to consider oral rabies vaccination for
its wildlife. - Mod.TG]

Rabies, Bovine - USA : (Virginia)

RABIES, BOVINE - USA: (VIRGINIA)
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A ProMED-mail post

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


Date: 19 Feb 2009
Source: DNR on line


Calves test positive for rabies near Linville
---------------------------------------------
A total of 3 calves from a farm near Linville recently tested positive for
rabies, according to the farm's owner. Although no specific animal has been
recognized as the carrier, a raccoon was found on the farm that tested
positive for the disease. The family that lives on the farm has been
treated with a series of rabies shots as a preventive measure. Health
officials described the outbreak as an isolated incident.

"We thought we were treating pneumonia," the farm owner, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, said of the 1st case. "But the calf wasn't getting
better, so we called the vet."

The calf's remains were sent to the Virginia animal testing lab, where it
tested positive for the disease. A diagnosis of rabies can be confirmed
postmortem only through a pathology test on the animal's brain. The
following week, a set of twin calves from the farm also developed signs
consistent with rabies, and tests confirmed rabies in them as well. Health
officials said the public is not in any danger from the limited outbreak.

Rabies on farms rare
--------------------
According to the Virginia Department of Health's website, 18 cases of
rabies in cattle have been reported in Rockingham and Augusta counties in
the last decade.

Allen Gutshall, district environmental health program manager for the
Virginia Department of Health, said some people vaccinate horses or prize
bulls, but vaccinating an entire herd of livestock is not practical or
cost-effective. If a rabid animal is found among livestock, Gutshall
recommended calling a veterinarian before taking further action.

Sometimes something as simple as separating and observing the animals
exposed to the rabies carrier will determine whether the animals are sick
or if further action needs to be taken.

Getting rabies information
--------------------------
For a complete list of animals diagnosed with rabies in Virginia in the
past decade, log on to .

[byline: Regina Cyzick Harlow]

communicated by:
ProMED-Mail rapporteur Susan Baekeland

[The article above implies that clinical signs of rabies in cattle are easy
to recognize. In fact, the early signs in cattle can mimic a number of
other more mundane disease conditions. Just as this article states, they
thought they were dealing with pneumonia. Most producers will not call a
veterinarian for something they are comfortable treating. And this article
clearly implies that several to all the members of the family were exposed
to the calf or the calves before finding it was rabies.

Even if the raccoon had been found, and believed to have rabies, it is
still likely the 1st calf would have been treated by the producer for
pneumonia as rabies is not always easily recognized in cattle.

The idea expressed in the article above, that vaccinating a whole herd for
rabies may not be practical or cost effective, should be considered in
comparison with the value of a human life. Rabies vaccinations are very
cheap insurance because rabies can occur anywhere, does not announce itself
and can mimic other diseases.

There are states in the USA who believe they are free of rabies, but one
case, which could be human, will prove to them that rabies is no respecter
of state lines or regulatory rules. - Mod.TG

A map of Virginia is available at
- CopyEd.EJP]

Rabies, Human - United Arab Emirates ex India

RABIES, HUMAN - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ex INDIA
*********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

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


Date: Tue 17 Feb 2009
Source: Gulf News online [edited]


Patient's death is 1st rabies fatality in UAE in 10 years
---------------------------------------------------------
A man being treated for rabies at a local hospital died on Monday [16 Feb
2009], the 1st such death in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a decade.
Gulf News reported the labourer from India was admitted to Al Baraha
Hospital on 8 Feb 2009 after he started showing symptoms. Rabies is
transmitted through saliva and blood from an infected animal. The most
common method of transmission is through bites, and globally more than 90
per cent of infections come from bites from rabid dogs.

Dr Ali Al Marzouqi, director of public health at the Department of Health
and Medical Services, told Gulf News it was the 1st rabies case in the UAE
in a decade. "The last case was 10 or more years ago. I have been in the
public health sector for 9 years and this is the 1st case we've got," he said.

Dr Ali Shakar, director-general at the Ministry of Health, told Gulf News
the man's hand was bitten 6 months ago, prior to his arrival in the UAE.
"If he had sought treatment immediately after the bite, or even after he
arrived in the UAE, maybe he would have been okay," he said.

Treatment for rabies involves cleaning and disinfecting the wound, and
giving the victim a post-exposure vaccination as soon as possible. Rabies
is almost always fatal when symptoms show up. Dr Shakar said there was no
need to vaccinate anyone as the man's contacts in the UAE have not shown
signs of exposure to the virus. Exposure refers to a case where infected
saliva enters an open wound. "The main thing is this is not a public health
scare so there is no need to panic. It can happen anytime, anywhere in the
world," he said. "It doesn't transfer like other [infectious] diseases.
It's not bird flu," he added.

He also said the body would be buried according to the World Health
Organisation (WHO) procedures, which dictates the immediate burial or
cremation of the body. No special containers are required for the body,
although embalming is discouraged. Despite the case, health authorities are
unlikely to require incoming residents and workers to be screened for rabies.

"We have other more important diseases to watch out for like HIV,
tuberculosis and sexually-transmitted diseases, which are more infectious,"
Dr Marzouqi said. "And if someone gets rabies here, so what? Transmission
is rare and we have vaccines to treat people after they are bitten," he said.

Facts about rabies: Rabies is a zoonotic disease that kills 55 000 people a
year worldwide, mostly in rural areas in Asia and Africa. It 1st shows up
with flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, and fatigue. Then it
progresses to involve the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and the central
nervous systems. It also leads to hydrophobia or fear of water, due to
spasms in the throat. The patient develops hyperactivity, called furious
rabies, or paralysis, called dumb rabies.

UAE regulations: Pets are required to be vaccinated. Rabies is a notifiable
disease under the public health laws, requiring all sectors to report an
encounter.

[byline: Nina Muslim]

communicated by:
ProMED-Mail rapporteur Susan Baekeland

[An unfortunate accompaniment of the global migration of populations.

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the United Arab Emirates is
accessible at . - Mod.CP]

Rabies, Canine, Human - Angola (03) : Luanda - 69 children reported dead from rabies

RABIES, CANINE, HUMAN - ANGOLA (03): LUANDA
*********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

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


Date: Wed 18 Feb 2009
Source: Independent Online [edited]


The number of children killed from rabies in Luanda rose to 69 on
Wednesday [18 Feb 2009], up from 50 last month, prompting authorities
to launch a new drive to round up hundreds of stray dogs in Angola's
capital city. The Health Ministry said health workers were rounding
up hundreds of strays in Luanda to counter the deadly virus that is
transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected animal. Almost
a 1000 dogs have already been collected since the rabies outbreak
began in November [2008]. Those that test positive for rabies are
killed; the others are released. "This is a tragedy because despite
all the efforts to control the rabies outbreak, things aren't getting
any better," Luis Bernardino, the director of Luanda's largest
children's hospital, told Reuters.

Children aged between 3 and 10 have been the main victims, as they
cannot protect themselves from dogs. Bernardino said the children are
usually from poor districts surrounding Luanda's urban core, where
thousands of stray dogs roam. Authorities in Luanda carried out a
city-wide vaccination campaign last month [January 2009] in which 100
000 animals -- dogs, cats and monkeys -- were inoculated in a city
that is home to more than 1/3rd of Angola's 16.5-million-strong
population. But this has failed to prevent the rabies death toll
among children from climbing in a country that already has one of the
worst infant mortality rates in the world. Two out of every 5
children die before reaching the age of 5, according to the United Nations.

Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via
ProMED-mail

[The effort to control urban rabies in the Angolan capital by a
combination of killing rabies-virus-infected feral dogs and
vaccination of urban dogs, cats and monkeys has had little impact on
the number of young children dying as a result of rabies virus
infection. A more sustained effort to control rabies by these means
will have to be implemented in combination with a more effective
education effort to inform the population of the hazard of rabies.

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Angola showing the
location of Luanda in the north of the country can be accessed at:
.
- Mod.CP]

Rabies vaccine - China; Recall of 300,000 + doses of Rabies vaccine

RABIES VACCINE - CHINA: RECALL, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
******************************
A ProMED-mail post

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


Date: Wed 11 Feb 2009
Source: Xinhua News Agency [edited]


China recalls more than 320 000 doses of flawed rabies vaccine
--------------------------------------------------------------
More than 320 000 doses of rabies vaccine found to contain a banned
ingredient have been recovered in China after regulators ordered a
recall, an official said Wednesday [11 Feb 2009]. Among 360 200 doses
of the flawed vaccines for human use, 323 200 had been recovered by
Monday afternoon [9 Feb 2009] by the manufacturer, Dalian
Jingang-Andi Bio-products Co. Ltd. in northeast China's Liaoning
Province, said Yan Jiangying, spokeswoman for the State Food and Drug
Administration (SFDA). She said she believed the rest of the
vaccines, where not used, had been held for recall. There has been no
report of vaccine-related illness so far.

The SFDA asked the province's drug administration department to make
sure all products were recovered, Yan said at a press conference. The
agency ordered the company to recall all rabies vaccine it produced
in 2008, totaling 3.389 million does, soon after the department
received a report from the National Institute for the Control of
Pharmaceutical and Biological Products (NICPBP) in early January [2009].

The institute found in a test that 360 200 doses of the company's
vaccines contained nucleic acid, which was not supposed to be added
until its safety had been proven. Nucleic acid acts as an adjuvant,
or a substance used to enhance the effectiveness of anti-viral drugs.
However, China hasn't yet approved it for use in rabies vaccine, said
Dong Guanmu, a researcher at the NICPBP. Dong said although animal
tests showed the acid did enhance the effectiveness of the vaccine,
it had to undergo clinical trials before it could be used on humans.

The company said on its website that it now supplies 20 percent of
the rabies vaccine in China's market. The company could not be
reached immediately for further information on the recall because the
telephone number it published online was no longer in use.

Communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[The expanded use of rabies vaccine for both pre- and post-exposure
immunisation has created a requirement for vaccines of higher
potency. The production of vaccines in cell culture is complicated by
the need to exclude animal serum from the final product and addition
of adjuvants is one approach to enhancement of vaccine potency. The
report above does not identify the nature of the nucleic acid present
in the rejected vaccine, but if it is not merely indicative of a
contaminant it may be an adjuvant which has not yet received approval
from a regulatory organisation.

For example, in China Wang et al have described a CpG
oligodeoxynucleotide, which acts as a potent adjuvant for inactivated
rabies virus vaccine (Vaccine. 2008 Mar 28; 26(15): 1893-901;
abstract available at ).
Their data indicated that the CpG oligodeoxynucleotide could be used
as a promising adjuvant to replace or combine with aluminum for
developing more effective rabies vaccines. Their data show that the
CpG oligodeoxynucleotide could be used as an effective adjuvant in
experimental animals (mice) to replace of or combine with aluminum
for development of more effective rabies vaccine.

Further information on the reason for the withdrawal of the rabies
vaccine batches described in the preceding report would be welcomed. - Mod.CP]

Rabies, Bovine, Feline - USA : (Vermont, Montana)

RABIES, BOVINE, FELINE - USA: (VERMONT, MONTANA)
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

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


[1] Vermont
Date: 14 Feb 2009
Source: Burlington Free Press [edited]


Rabies killed 2 cows at a Charlotte dairy farm this week, prompting
state officials to encourage vaccination of dairy herds.

The rare rabies incident presents no danger to the public milk
supply, assuming the milk is pasteurized, said Kelly Loftus, an
Agency of Agriculture spokeswoman. Pasteurized milk is heated to a
temperature that kills viruses and bacteria.

The infected cows died Monday and Tuesday [9-10 Feb 2009], Loftus
said. Tests confirmed the animals died of rabies. The rabies might
have been contracted from a raccoon that was killed by a farm dog
before the cows became ill, Loftus said. The dog had its rabies
vaccination and was unharmed, Loftus said.

The 2 cows were part of a 30-head herd at Judy and Robert Albu's
dairy farm in Charlotte, she said.

Joe Klopfenstein, owner of Vergennes Large Animal Associates in
Vergennes, said he was called to the Charlotte farm Sunday [8 Feb 2009].

"The 1st cow was down. She was stuck in her stall. She couldn't get
up. She was obviously not responsive. She was blind. She was not
responding to me. She had a low body temperature, dry stool,"
Klopfenstein said. "There were a lot of very unusual signs."

At first, Klopfenstein thought the cow had low-blood calcium. "But
the systems were not consistent," he said. The 2nd cow, he said, was
"hyper-aware. She looked like she was startled. Her eyes were wide
open, and her ears were up like something had frightened her,"
Klopfenstein said.

One cow was a Jersey and one was Holstein. He suspected both cows
would die. "The prognosis was poor," he said, and he encouraged
rabies tests be conducted because of the unusual neurological signs.

These aren't the 1st animals with rabies Klopfenstein has come across
during his 25-year career. He has evaluated similar cases in cows in
Monkton and Shoreham, a pig in Hinesburg, and a sheep in New Haven.
But those were exceptions. "Rabies is so rare," he said.

"It is unusual, but it does happen," Loftus said, noting Vermont had
one such case last year [2008]. Throughout the country, 150 cows
contracted rabies last year, she said.

State officials were initially concerned some of the people at the
Charlotte farm might have consumed raw milk that could have
transferred the rabies, which can be fatal. By Friday [13 Feb 2009]
afternoon, however, officials no longer believed farmers had drunk
the tainted milk, she said.

"Cows -- or any warm-blooded animal -- can pass rabies to people,
although there is no documented case of a human becoming infected
with rabies by drinking raw milk from a rabid cow. However, out of an
abundance of caution, the Health Department recommends that anyone
exposed to the virus should discuss possible treatment with their
health care provider," said Patsy Kelso, the state's acting
epidemiologist. "Because human rabies is fatal and the vaccine is
nearly 100 percent effective, we want to make sure that anyone who
may have consumed raw milk from the cow meet with their medical
provider to make an informed decision about whether or not to get vaccinated."

Since 1987, federal regulations have required all milk packaged for
human consumption be pasteurized before delivery into interstate commerce.

The Health Department and Agency of Agriculture are encouraging
anyone who had close contact with the cows or may have consumed raw
milk between 25 Jan and 8 Feb 2009 to discuss vaccination with their
health care provider.

The farm's remaining cows were vaccinated Wednesday [11 Feb 2009] and
are expected to remain healthy, Klopfenstein said.

Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

*********************************************************************************

[2] Montana
Date: 13 Feb 2009
Source: Helena Independent Record [edited]


Officials with the Lewis and Clark County Health Department confirmed
a case of rabies in a "semi-feral" cat near East Valley Middle School
Thursday [12 Feb 2009].

The cat, which has since been euthanized, was brought to a local
veterinarian by the owner, said Laurel Riek, an environmental health
specialist with the health department. Health department officials
presume the test will come back positive for rabies, and confirmation
is expected on Friday [13 Feb 2009].

In the interest of protecting the public, Riek said, notices about
the incident were sent out prior to that confirmation. A note was
sent home with students attending East Helena Public Schools on
Wednesday [11 Feb 2009], and text messages circulated Thursday
morning, Superintendent Ron Whitmoyer said.

"We can be proactive in our approach," he said.

Other unvaccinated cats from the East Helena home have been captured,
and animal control is assessing their threat, said Mike Henderson,
the health department communicative-disease control division administrator.

Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system
of humans and other mammals. People primarily get rabies from the
bite of an animal with rabies through the saliva of the infected animal.

It's not uncommon for wild animals to be rabid, Henderson said, but a
domestic animal with rabies hasn't been reported in the county since 1994.

Officials say if a person is bit by an animal suspected of having
rabies, they should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water,
seek medical attention, and report any animal bites to the health
department at 447-8355 or the Lewis and Clark's Sheriff's office.

Communicated by:
ProMED-Mail Rapporteur Susan Baekeland

[All animals that we come into contact with should be vaccinated
against rabies. Rabies is a virus that is fatal for animals and is
almost always fatal in humans. It is extremely cheap insurance to
vaccinate your horses and cattle, cats and dogs.

Cattle with rabies are often hyper-alert with an odd ear twitch and a
very odd bellow that more often than not makes the hair on one's neck
stand up. Farm animals with rabies often have unusual signs (animals
have signs not symptoms) that may mimic other common diseases.

In the case with the cats, this is an excellent opportunity to remind
all owners to vaccinate their animals. - Mod.TG]

Rabies, Equine, Skunk - USA : (Kentucky)

RABIES, EQUINE, SKUNK - USA: (KENTUCKY)
********************************
Date: 12 Feb 2009
Source: The Horse.com [edited]


Rabid Horse Found in Kentucky
-----------------------------
A horse in the Hamilton Lane/North Yarnallton Pike area of Lexington,
Kentucky, has tested positive for rabies, according to a statement
from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.

Department Spokesman Kevin Hall said the thoroughbred began showing
clinical signs similar to colic on 5 Feb 2009. The horse was admitted
to an equine hospital and underwent exploratory surgery. While in
isolation following surgery, the animal started having violent
seizures and was euthanized. Testing confirmed rabies in the animal
11 Feb 2009. Hall said the investigation into the level of human
exposure is under way.

"Right now we're looking to see the level of exposure," Hall said.
"We're visiting with the farm and with any workers that might have
been exposed."

A skunk near Abbeywood Road also tested positive this week 8-14 Feb
2009]. Earlier this year, another skunk that tested positive for the
disease was found in a pasture near Spurr Road. In that case, a man
was bitten while trying to dispose of the animal. These bring the
total of rabies cases in the county in 2009 to 5 -- already one more
than in all of 2008.

Kentucky state law requires that dogs, cats, and ferrets maintain
annual rabies vaccinations.

Clinical signs of rabies in a horse can look like many different
things, including colic. The CDC reported 53 cases of rabies in
horses in 2006. A Webinar (Web-based seminar) on rabies, along with a
transcript, presented by Steve Reed, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, is available
at the Source URL, noted above.

[Byline: Erin Ryder, News Editor]

Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Susan Baekeland

[This moderator has long been an advocate of rabies vaccination in
horses and any farm animal that is shown or handled. It is very cheap
insurance compared to losing a human life or even a prized animal.
Unfortunately, when a large animal is exposed to rabies there are
often many people exposed before the diagnosis is made. The reason is
because rabies mimics other diseases in our large animals. - Mod.TG]

[A map of the state of Kentucky is available at:

- CopyEd.EJP]

Rabies - Brazil (03) : (Pernambuco), Recovery from Rabies using the Wisconsin Protocol

RABIES - BRAZIL (03): (PERNAMBUCO), RECOVERY
********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

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


Date: 12 Feb 2009
From: Gustavo Trindade Henriques Filho

[In response to a ProMED inquiry about the status of the Pernambuco,
Brazil, surviving rabies patient, the following was received from Dr.
Henriquez Filho, the attending physician. - Mod.TY]

Our patient is alive. He was discharged from the critical care unit
last Wednesday (4 Feb [2009]). He is conscious, but with motor
limitations. He is conscious and speaking, with a good cognitive function.

Gustavo Trindade Henriques Filho, MD
Critical Care Unit of Infectious Diseases,
Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital
Pernambuco State University
Brazil


[This patient was treated following the Wisconsin protocol, and
represents a 2nd survival after the development of clinical disease
following treatment using the the Wisconsin protocol. ProMED thanks
Dr. Henriques Filho for this report, and will be interested in future
information about the patient's progress. The details relating to
this case and the original one in Wisconsin, as well as the
discussion it engendered concerning the efficacy of the Wisconsin
protocol in survival of rabies patients, can be found in the ProMED
archives listed below. - Mod.TY]

Rabies, Canine, Human - Angola (02) : (Huambo)

RABIES, CANINE, HUMAN - ANGOLA (02): (HUAMBO)
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

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


Date: Tue 3 Feb 2009
Source: Agencia AngolaPress [Portugese, trans. Mod.MPP, edited]


The Health Department of the Caala municipality, which is located 23
km from the provincial capital, reported 5 cases of people being
bitten by rabid dogs that were roaming in the main streets of the
city during the month of January [2009].

This fact was given to the Angop [Angola Press] today [3 Feb 2009] by
the head of the Health Division in the municipality of Caala, Ernesto
Albino Ndumbo, and thanks to prompt intervention of hospital
services, they [the people bitten by the rabid dogs] are out of
danger [presumably as a consequence of post-exposure vaccination].

Furthermore, the head of the municipal Health department in Caala
said the municipal health technicians have increased actions to raise
the awareness of residents on preventive measures against rabies. He
stressed that in addition to conducting talks in health centers, the
health technicians have also conducted door to door sensitization
activities to encourage the population to take their animals to the
vaccination centers.

The Angop knows that in the entire township of Caala, since January
2009, the veterinary services have immunized approximately 500
animals with rabies vaccine including dogs, cats and monkeys.

Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[Unfortunately, such incidents have not been rare in Angola, and the
efforts of the authorities have been reactive rather than preemptive.
In January 2007 (see archive reference below), a similar outbreak
occurred in another township (Ukuma), also close to the provincial
capital, in which 21 people were bitten by dogs, one of whom died}

The location of Caala, a community of approximately 7000 persons in
the province of Huambo, can be found at:
.

A map of the provinces of Angola can be accessed at:

showing Huambo in the centre of the country. - Mod.CP]

Rabies, Canine, Human - Indoensia (02) ; Bali, Alert

RABIES, CANINE, HUMAN - INDONESIA (02): BALI, ALERT
***************************************************
A ProMED-mail post

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


Date: Fri 30 Jan 2009
Source: The Telegraph online [edited]


Bali tourists warned about rabies
---------------------------------
The authorities in Bali are battling a rabies outbreak that has
spread across the island and is threatening its tourism industry. The
1st cases were reported in Denpasar and Badung districts last
November [2008], but this month it spread to Kuta, one of the main
tourist resorts.

Since the beginning of January [2009], the number of infected people
has increased from a "handful" a week to at least 10 a day, hospital
staff have said. A total of 6 deaths have been reported. More than 24
000 pet dogs have been vaccinated, while more than 1000 strays have
been culled.

"It could be that in the past few months there were a number of cases
that weren't reported," said Ken Wirasandhi, the director of services
at Sanglah, Bali's largest hospital. "We've received calls from
tourists asking about the rabies situation, but we haven't received
reports of any tourists being bitten by dogs," said Gede Nurjaya, the
head of the Bali Tourism Authority.

Tour operators report that the outbreak has not yet led to
cancellations, but admit it is vital that the spread of the disease
is contained quickly. A spokesman for the tour operator Kuoni, which
reported this week that Indonesia had moved up from 20th in 2007 to
16th in its annual list of popular long-haul destinations, said it
was making passengers aware of the risks, but that no one had cancelled.

Since the onset of the financial downturn, Bali has struggled to
attract visitors. The number of tourists has failed to reach the
levels experienced before the bombings in October 2002, which killed
202 people. A further setback has been the banning of Indonesia's
main carrier, Garuda, from European territory, because of safety concerns.

The Foreign Office has joined the United States and Australia in
issuing a warning to travellers about rabies in Bali. Rabies has been
reported on the Indonesian islands of Java and Flores [see ProMED
refs. below. - Mod.JW], but this is the 1st time it has been recorded
on Bali.

The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 40 000 people
die from rabies every year. Most deaths take place in developing
countries, particularly in South-East Asia. Since 1946, there have
been 23 deaths among Britons infected with rabies abroad. A woman,
from Belfast, was the last Briton killed by the virus. She died
earlier this month [January 2009] in a hospital.

Byline: Charles Starmer-Smith]

Communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[The Indonesian authorities' efforts to contain the outbreak of
canine rabies to a restricted region of the island of Bali do not
appear to be succeeding, since the identification of a handful of
suspected human cases in late 2008/early January 2009 to the current
10 infected [bitten?] people a day, and a total of 6 fatalities, is a
measure of the lack of success in controlling the spread of canine
rabies on the island. Previous experience on other neighboring island
indicates that canine rabies cannot be controlled in the absence of a
comprehensive and systematic vaccination programme.

A map of the island of Bali showing the location of the endangered
tourist area of Kuta at the base of the southernmost peninsula, is
available at:
.

The location of the island of Bali can be found using the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Indonesia at:
. - Mod.CP]