The Situation of Rabies in The Southern Highlands Zone of Tanzania Between 2000-2003

Abstract

A study to investigate the status of rabies and its control in the Southern Highlands Zone of Tanzania over a period of four years is reported. The study involved perusal of Veterinary and Medical records from 19 (90.5%) councils out of 21 constituting the zone, with the aim of examining the incidence,  control measures and the general importance of rabies in  both animals and  humans. A total of 6,710 human cases of animal bites that resulted into 41 human deaths and other hundreds who underwent post exposure therapy were recorded. 98.4% of all the human cases of animal bites were due to dog bites. Domestic cat bites contributed 64.8% of all 105 human cases of animal bites other than the dog. Wildlife namely jackals, hyenas, and monkeys, contributed 21%, 9.5% and 4.8% respectively of the 105 human cases of animal bites. Fragmented prophylactic measures such as poor vaccination campaigns with coverage of about 21.7% of all dog populations over the four-year study period and presence of stray dogs during rabies campaigns are pointed out to be the cause of failures in control of the disease in the zone. It is concluded that rabies is endemic in the Southern Highlands Zone of Tanzania warranting proper control strategies and improved diagnostic capability in animals involved in human bites. It is recommended that concerted efforts should be made to enforce laws and by-laws pertaining to control of stray dogs and adherence to vaccination programmes as well as provision of pre exposure vaccination to persons occupationally at high risk of contracting rabies from infected animals.