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Home / Equine Research Bank / Emerg Infect Dis / Reemergence of rabies in Chhukha district, Bhutan, 2008.
Emerging infectious diseases2010; 16(12); 1925-1930; doi: 10.3201/eid1612.100958

Reemergence of rabies in Chhukha district, Bhutan, 2008.

Abstract: From January through July 2008, rabies reemerged in the Chhukha district of southwestern Bhutan. To clarify the distribution and direction of spread of this outbreak, we mapped reported cases and conducted directional tests (mean center and standard deviational ellipse). The outbreak resulted in the death of 97 animals (42 cattle, 52 dogs, and 3 horses). Antirabies vaccine was given free of charge to ≈674 persons suspected to have been exposed. The outbreak spread south to north and appeared to follow road networks, towns, and areas of high human density associated with a large, free-roaming, dog population. The outbreak was controlled by culling free-roaming dogs. To prevent spread into the interior of Bhutan, a well-coordinated national rabies control program should be implemented in disease-endemic areas.
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Publication Date: 2010-12-03 PubMed ID: 21122223PubMed Central: PMC3294548DOI: 10.3201/eid1612.100958Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article discusses the resurgence of rabies between January and July 2008 in the Chhukha district of Bhutan and how it was tracked and eventually stopped. The information includes the number of animals that were affected, the delivery of anti-rabies vaccines, along with the tracing and control of the outbreak.

Research Context

  • This research was conducted after the resurgence of rabies in Chhukha district, Bhutan, between January and July 2008.
  • The outbreak led to the death of 97 animals, including 42 cattle, 52 dogs, and 3 horses.
  • To mitigate the crisis, approximately 674 persons suspected of exposure were given free antirabies vaccines.

Mapping and Tracking

  • The research team used distinctive methods such as mean center and standard deviational ellipse for mapping reported cases and understanding the distribution and direction of the rabies outbreak.
  • The results revealed that the outbreak had spread from south to north, seemingly along road networks, towns, and areas with high human population.
  • The outbreak seemed to be associated with a large, free-roaming dog population.

Outbreak Control

  • To control the outbreak, a method of culling free-roaming dogs was implemented, which proved to be successful.
  • This only stopped the outbreak and didn’t completely eradicate the possibility of a future resurgence.

Future Prevention Strategy

  • With the intention of curtailing future outbreaks, the researchers recommend the implementation of a well-coordinated national rabies control program in areas where the disease is endemic.
  • This is a crucial step towards preventing the disease from spreading into the interior regions of Bhutan.

Cite This Article

APA
Tenzin , Sharma B, Dhand NK, Timsina N, Ward MP. (2010). Reemergence of rabies in Chhukha district, Bhutan, 2008. Emerg Infect Dis, 16(12), 1925-1930. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1612.100958

Publication

Emerging infectious diseases
ISSN: 1080-6059
NlmUniqueID: 9508155
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 12
Pages: 1925-1930

Researcher Affiliations

Tenzin,
  • The University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales, Australia.
Sharma, Basant
    Dhand, Navneet K
      Timsina, Nilkanta
        Ward, Michael P

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Bhutan
          • Cattle
          • Cattle Diseases / epidemiology
          • Cattle Diseases / mortality
          • Cattle Diseases / prevention & control
          • Cattle Diseases / virology
          • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology
          • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / mortality
          • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / prevention & control
          • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / veterinary
          • Disease Outbreaks / economics
          • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
          • Dog Diseases / epidemiology
          • Dog Diseases / mortality
          • Dog Diseases / prevention & control
          • Dog Diseases / virology
          • Dogs
          • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
          • Horse Diseases / mortality
          • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
          • Horse Diseases / virology
          • Horses
          • Humans
          • Incidence
          • Rabies / epidemiology
          • Rabies / mortality
          • Rabies / prevention & control
          • Rabies / veterinary
          • Rabies Vaccines / therapeutic use
          • Vaccination

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