[The epidemiology of canine rabies in Colombia]

Abstract

Objective: An epidemiological-ecological study was carried out on canine rabies in Colombia to describe its tendency and explore the factors associated with its incidence.

Methods: Socio-economic variable data was collected by questionnaire applied to the rabies control programme's regional epidemiology coordinators in each Colombian department. Statistical association analysis was carried out on the 2001-2006 historical epidemiologic data on canine rabies incidence and sources of official national survey figures. Incidence rate ratios and Spearman correlation tests were calculated.

Results: Canine rabies incidence rate was 0.4 cases x 100,000 dogs/year (without adjustment for 2001-2006). Average immunisation coverage from 1994 to 2005 was 45 % to 63 %; only 25 % of Colombian departments had higher than 60 % immunisation coverage. The following variables were associated with the presence of canine rabies: an urban population, immunisation coverage, a lack of a cold chain for vaccines, a lack of participation in surveillance committees, the lack of an epidemiological map, the unavailability of a rabies' diagnosis laboratory, the absence of trained human resources, the absence of a zoonosis centre for observing dogs, comparative analysis between monthly and semester basis data and the percentage of people displaced by internal violence.

Conclusions: The analysis suggested the need for active surveillance and rapid response. Canine rabies is associated with the weaknesses of regional control programmes. Internal human migration could influence human-dog-selvatic reservoir ratios and rabies frequency.