Re‐emerging of rabies in Shaanxi province, China, from 2009 to 2015

Abstract

To explore the epidemiological, phylogeographic, and migration characteristics of human rabies in Shaanxi province, China from 2009 to 2015. The collected data were described and the sequenced glycoprotein (G) and nucleoprotein (N) genes were implemented to estimate the evolutionary rates and phylogeographic patterns using BEAST v.1.8.2. A total of 269 rabies cases were reported and 70.26% of the cases were male and 61.71% were between the ages of 19-59. The majority of the cases were farmers (83.27%). The estimated evolutionary rate of the N genes was 2.4 × 10 substitutions/site/year and the G genes was 3.4 × 10 . The time of the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) was estimated around 1990. We detected viral migration paths from Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan to Hanzhong prefecture of Shaanxi and then spreaded to Xi'an and other prefectures. The main population affected by rabies virus was male adult farmers. The evolution rate of rabies viruses in Shaanxi was similar with the prior results reported by others and the ancestor virus should be circulating in neighboring province Sichuan around 1990 and then transmitted to Shaanxi. Promptly standard wound treatment and timely post-exposure prophylaxis should be compulsory for the dog-bitten victims.

One Health strategies for rabies control in rural areas of China

“…2,3 Although prevention and control methods have been effective in reducing the number of overall cases (figure; appendix pp 5-7), prevention of human cases is still a challenge, especially in rural areas, because rabies virus is a reemerging pathogen in China. 4 After analysing epidemiological characteristics of the human-animal rabies cases in China (appendix pp 3-7), we find that the highest incidence of human rabies was in 2007. Only 804 cases were reported in 2015, and only Tibet reported no human rabies cases (figure, appendix pp 6-7).…”

“…5 The better transportation network and the increase of dog trade among Chinese provinces has contributed to the geographical spread of rabies. 4 In addition, this reemergence could be caused by transmission from wildlife to dogs. 5 Moreover, subtypes from other Asian countries were identified in Chinese wildlife.…”

“…Therefore, border control regulations must be enforced, because movement of people from Afghanistan into Pakistan without any monitoring or health checks has overwhelmed the local public health system, as previously described. 4 To show that the festival of Eid-ul-Adha (held on Sept 13-15 in 2016) is a vulnerable period for CCHF outbreaks, as reported by Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi and colleagues, 5 we calculated the number of positive cases and deaths during each month of 2016 (figure). The highest numbers of positive cases and deaths were observed in August, 2016, just before the festival.…”

Transmission dynamics of re-emerging rabies in domestic dogs of rural China

“…China is second only to India [4] in terms of the national number of human rabies cases, and in recent years the prevalence of rabies has increased in some areas of China [5]. More than 90% of human rabies cases in China occur in rural regions [6] where the proportion of vaccinated dogs is very low [7].…”

Canine rabies control and human exposure 1951–2015, Guangzhou, China

“…Rabies is a fatal, zoonotic, disease caused by an RNA virus of the genus Lyssavirus 1 . Almost all mammals are susceptible to infection, 2 , 3 which can occur via bites or scratches from infected animals or through contamination of fresh wounds or mucous membranes by infectious material 4 . In humans, the fatality rate is almost 100% 5 – 8 .…”