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. 2024 Sep 13;24(1):966.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-024-09864-2.

Epidemiological characteristics of human rabies cases reported by sites in China from 2006 to 2022

Jia-Jia Liu #  1   2 , Na Zhang #  1 , Shu-Jun Ding  2 , Zeng-Qiang Kou  2 , Xiao-Yan Tao  3 , Wu-Yang Zhu  4
Affiliations

Epidemiological characteristics of human rabies cases reported by sites in China from 2006 to 2022

Jia-Jia Liu et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Rabies is an incessant public health threat in China. The Ministry of Health implemented the Central Payment for Rabies Prevention and Control Project to assist with rabies prevention and control in a few representative provinces in 2006.

Methods: Data on human rabies cases reported by the National Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System and national surveillance sites from 2006 to 2022 were collected, and statistical and multivariate analyses were then used to assess the effectiveness of current prevention and control efforts.

Results: During 2006-2022, a total of 2025 human rabies cases were collected by the national surveillance sites, with incidence rates far above the national average, but the incidence rate was consistent with the national trend. Human rabies cases demonstrated a dual peak distribution in terms of exposure and onset dates, with the peak exposure dates falling mostly in the spring and summer and the peak onset dates occurring mostly in the summer and autumn. Three danger categories are shown by the geographical distribution: high, medium and low. Dogs had a high infection rate (86.93%), with own domesticated dogs accounting for the majority of infections. The rates of post-exposure prophylaxis are not constant. The median incubation period was 71 days.

Conclusions: Various measures and policies implemented by the government have played a key role in reducing the incidence of rabies. To effectively prevent and control the resurgence of epidemics and halt the spread of the virus among host animals, it is imperative to prioritize and implement a robust dog management system, accelerate research and development of animal vaccines and improve the level of post-exposure prophylaxis.

Keywords: Epidemiologic characteristics; Influencing factor; Post-exposure prophylaxis; Rabies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Incidence of human rabies reported by the national surveillance sites from 2006 to 2022
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Temporal distribution of human rabies reported by the national surveillance sites from 2006 to 2022
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Geographical distribution of human rabies reported by the national surveillance sites from 2006 to 2022
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Number of human rabies cases reported by the national surveillance sites from 2006 to 2022
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Trends in PEP rates for human rabies at national surveillance sites from 2006 to 2022. 1The wound treatment rate is the proportion of cases reported by the national surveillance sites each year that were treated after exposure in medical institutions; 2The PEP vaccination rate is the proportion of vaccinated cases reported annually by the national surveillance sites; 3The RIG injection rate is the proportion of rabies immunoglobulin injected into third level exposed cases at the national surveillance sites every year
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