Conference abstract

Investigation of human rabies cases and estimation of the risk of rabies virus spread among dog population in Doufelgou district, northern Togo, 2017

Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2019:10(26).10 Jun 2019.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2019.10.26.830
Archived on: 10 Jun 2019
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Dog bite victim, rabies outbreak, Togo
Oral presentation

Investigation of human rabies cases and estimation of the risk of rabies virus spread among dog population in Doufelgou district, northern Togo, 2017

Moudachirou Naba1, Pidemnéwé Pato2,&, Rebecca Kinde3, Adom Simfeilé4, Gbati Tchedre5

1Epidémiologie, Ministère de la Santé, Lome Togo, 2Division Regionale du Contrôle Vétérinaire, Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Elevage et de la Pêche du Togo Lome, Togo, 3Residant Advisor FELTP intermédiaire, Lome, Togo, 4Division contrôle Vétérinaire Kara, Togo, 5SIMR Assoli, Ministère de la Santé, Lome, Togo

&Corresponding author
Pidemnewe Pato, Division Régionale du Contrôle Vétérinaire, Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Elevage et de la Pêche du Togo Lome, Togo

Abstract

Introduction: human rabies cases are reported annually by health facilities in Togo. The aim of this investigation was to confirm a probable case of human rabies following the bite of a suspect rabid dog and to estimate the risk of spread of rabies virus among human and dog populations in Doufelgou health district.

Methods: a participatory household survey was conducted to gather epidemiological information on possible human and canine contacts with the suspect dog. All established human and canine contact cases that met WHO-OIE rabies case definition were identified. We followed classic survey on data collection tools, register consultation and document review. We carried out 10 focus group discussions and 45 individual interviews, met with 2 families of patients, 20 dog owners including bitten dogs.

Results: a 38-year-old man bitten by the dog on March 4, 2017 presented on April 20, 2017, for severe pruritus, aching, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, pain in the lower limb, was hospitalized and referred next day at Kara Hospital. He died on 24 April. A 55-year-old woman was also bitten on 4 March by the same dog, was contacted through telephone on 29 April. She was hospitalized in Elavagnon, Est-Mono on 27 April and died on the 30th of April after hydrophobia and paralysis of the limbs. A pet was put under quarantine for purposive sampling and laboratory diagnosis. The suspect dog died the same day after biting 4 other dogs with 2 puppies.

Conclusion: public awareness allowed adequate information on rabies contact tracing, and increases participation in the control of the disease in Doufelgou district.