Author(s)

Tiembré Issaka^1,2*, Tetchi Sopi Malthide^1,2, Coulibaly Adama³, Christiane Djoman^1,2, Dagnan N’cho Simplice^1,2, Dosso Mireille⁴

¹Félix Houphouët Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
²National Institute of Public Hygiene, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
³National Institute of Public Hygiene, Adzopé, Côte d’Ivoire.
⁴Pasteur Institute of Côte d’Ivoire Laboratory, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Introduction: Rabies is a highly fatal viral disease outside the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Data from previous studies and reports from the rabies center show that cases of death from human rabies are regularly reported, despite training measures for health workers, awareness-raising and communities, and the availability of vaccines. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse the determinants of human rabies deaths in Côte d’Ivoire from 2016 to 2022. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional qualitative study was carried out from January to August 2023 on all the records of patients who died of human rabies at the Treichville Rabies Center from 2016 to 2022. An analysis of the rabies center’s annual activity reports from 2016 to 2022 was also carried out in order to complete the information gathered from the files. Results: The socio-demographic characteristics showed that out of 148 deaths, children accounted for 47.97% (71) and 66.22% (98) of rabies deaths were male, with an M/F sex ratio of 1.96. In terms of clinical characteristics, in 97.30% (144) of cases, the deceased had presented with furious rabies, and analysis by the Pasteur Institute of Côte d’Ivoire laboratory confirmed 101 cases (92.66%) of human rabies. Geographical distribution showed that cases of human rabies were recorded in 56 health district, and 64% (94) of the deceased lived in rural areas. The main causes of the occurrence of rabies were essentially non-use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and missed vaccination due to ignorance. Conclusion: In view of these results, control strategies and interventions need to be adapted to the epidemiological characteristics of the disease, using a community-based approach with a view to eliminating dog-transmitted rabies by 2030.

Epidemiological Facies, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, Rabies, Deaths, Côte d’Ivoire

Issaka, T. , Malthide, T. , Adama, C. , Djoman, C. , Simplice, D. and Mireille, D. (2023) Epidemiological Facies of Human Rabies Deaths in Côte d’Ivoire from 2016 to 2022. Open Journal of Epidemiology, 13, 372-384. doi: 10.4236/ojepi.2023.134027.