Characterizing Rabies Epidemiology in Remote Inuit Communities in Québec, Canada: A “One Health” Approach

Abstract

Rabies is endemic throughout arctic areas including the region of Nunavik, situated north of the 55th parallel of Québec, Canada, and raises public health concerns. The aim of this paper is to provide a descriptive overview of the temporal and regional distributions of three important components of arctic rabies in Nunavik from 1999 to 2012, following a "One Health" approach: animal rabies tests and confirmed cases, dog vaccination, and human consultations for potential rabies exposures. Forty-four cases of rabies, involving mainly arctic and red foxes, were confirmed in animals during this period. The mean number of dogs vaccinated per 1,000 inhabitants was highly variable and lower in the Hudson region than the Ungava region. 112 consultations for potential rabies exposure were analyzed, of which 24 were exposure to a laboratory confirmed rabid animal. Children less than 10 years of age were the age group most commonly exposed. The median time between potential exposure and administration of the first post-exposure prophylaxis dose was four days. This study confirms that the risk of human exposure to rabid animals in Nunavik is present and underlines the need to follow a "One Health" approach to prevent rabies in humans in similar contexts worldwide.

Improper wound treatment and delay of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis of animal bite victims in China: Prevalence and determinants

“…Luckily, the provision of rabies biologics has been included in the medical insurance settlement, making it available and affordable for residents in China, which is inconsistent with studies reported in less developed countries [10, 29, 30]. In China, basic medical insurance covers most of the cost of rabies vaccine.…”

Animal Bite Patterns and Implementation of Rabies Prevention and Control Program in Animal Bite Treatment Center

“…This can be attributed to the fact that dogs are domesticated and taken cared of mostly by women, since they are more likely the ones who stay at home. Additionally, victims of animal bite cases in Quezon Province are more likely above 15 years old (61.41%) which negated other studies which tell otherwise [9,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Animal bites occur more frequently in adult since it is usually the adult member in the family who is often associated with handling and caring for the animal.…”

Emerging and Reemerging Neglected Tropical Diseases: a Review of Key Characteristics, Risk Factors, and the Policy and Innovation Environment

“…Supporting the compatibility of the One Health framework for addressing EReNTDs has been its direct application in infectious disease governance and integrated vector prevention and control strategies. This includes successful vector control interventions in Chad, where restricted application of insecticides to cattle leg extremities was used to address HAT, application of the One Health model for coordination and control efforts for rabies and other canine-related zoonoses, and the importance of One Health and the globalized food supply chain (201,272,(339)(340)(341).…”