Rabies, Animal, Human - Russia (02) : Moscow Region

RABIES, ANIMAL, HUMAN - RUSSIA (02): (MOSCOW REGION)
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A ProMED-mail post

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


Date: Thu 2 Jul 2009
Source: IA Moscow news [trans, abbreviated, Mod.NP, edited]


According to RosSelhozNadzor (The Federal Agency for Veterinary and
Phytosanitary Supervision), the numbers of stray dogs and cats, the vectors
of rabies, have continued to increase throughout the Moscow region.

The number of rabies cases among animals during 2008 was 2.5 times their
number during 2007. 80 per cent of the cases involved wildlife, of which
the population growth is uncontrolled. The other 20 per cent involved pets.

During the 1st 5 months of 2009, 11 000 persons applied for post-exposure
treatment. This is an 11 per cent more than in the same period of 2008.

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[According to VmDaily , 13
cases of human rabies have been recorded within the Moscow region since
1987; 9 of them died during the last 5 years. - Mod.NP

Clearly, the reservoirs of the virus in the Moscow region are wild animals;
according to previous postings, these are predominantly raccoon dogs
(_Nyctereutes procyonoides_) and foxes. Stray or unvaccinated pet dogs
(and, to a lesser extent, cats) exposed to wildlife deliver the fatal virus
into the human population.

The reported increase in the number of rabies cases in animals (probably
referring to both wildlife and domestic pets) deserves some explanation; it
could also reflect intensified monitoring. The increased number of exposed
(and subsequently treated) people may, however, reflect a growth in the
stray animal population or deficient vaccination coverage of pets.

Oral vaccination of wildlife is the recommended mode for spatial rabies
control. Several of the vaccines which have been long demonstrated as
highly effective and safe in controlling the disease in foxes -- in western
Europe and elsewhere -- have been tested in raccoon dogs as well, with
similarly satisfactory results. - Mod.AS]

Rabies, Human, Canine - Viet Nam (Lai Chau)

RABIES, HUMAN, CANINE - VIET NAM (LAI CHAU)
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A ProMED-mail post

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


Date: Wed 1 Jul 2009
Source: VNS, Viet Nam News agency [edited]


Northern Lai Chau Province announced a rabies epidemic after 4 people died
of the disease and at least 500 people had been bitten by rabid dogs in the
last 2 months. "The 500 cases only account for the number of patients who
got a rabies [vaccination] at the province's Preventive Healthcare Centre
after being bitten," said Do Van Giang, deputy director of Lai Chau
Province's Health Department, adding that the actual number of infected
people could be much higher.

Due to the high demand for dog meat, many local people transported dogs
from Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces. These dogs then infected the local
dogs, leading to the rabies outbreak, said Nguyen Cong Huan, director of
the province's Health Department.

"More people will die of rabies because they do not get the vaccine," he
said. The cost for the vaccine is high -- nearly VND one million (USD 56)
for a course of 5 injections -- and 40 per cent of people in the province
have an average monthly income of VND 200 000 (USD 11), according to Giang.

"My pregnant daughter was killed by a rabid dog because she couldn't get
the vaccine in time," said a 64 year old in Lai Chau Town, who recovered
from rabies after several days of treatment in the province's hospital
[presumably as a result of prophylactic immunization before any symptoms of
infection developed. - Mod.CP]. "Authorities should support patients like
us and get us free treatment. If not, we will not be able to afford the
vaccine," said Thanh.

The province recently decreed that the poor would get free rabies vaccines
and others would get 50 per cent of the vaccine cost subsidised, said Huan.
Some local ethnic minorities lack information about the disease and choose
to treat it with herbal remedies instead of getting the vaccine. "Many
people rush around looking for herbal medicine after being bitten by dogs.
However, this is useless and causes more harm because there is no
scientific basis for this treatment," said Bui Tien Thanh, a doctor at the
province's General Hospital.

Local health officers have handed out leaflets about rabies and treatment
to educate people about the disease and have asked anyone who has been
bitten by dogs to go to the Preventive Healthcare Centre for treatment,
according to Nguyen Van Ngoc, deputy director of the Preventive Healthcare
Centre. "In addition, relevant authorities have increased the management of
dog transports from other provinces and are more closely monitoring the
province's current canines," said Huan.

So far, the province's Veterinary Department has vaccinated 4 dogs and cats
in the province. "It has been decades since the last rabies epidemic, and
the province is trying to stop the spread of the disease as quickly as
possible," said Giang.

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[A map of the provinces of Viet Nam can be accessed at:
. The province of Lai Chau
lies in the far western part of the northern region.

Rabies in Viet Nam continues to be a problem partly on account of lack of
regulation of the trade of dog breeding and provision of dog meat for human
consumption (see references below). Comprehensive vaccination of canines
would both protect human health and have long term economic benefits. - Mod.CP]