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KMID : 1143420220150231615
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Public Health Weekly Report
2022 Volume.15 No. 23 p.1615 ~ p.1622
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Animal Bites and Rabies Case Surveillance in the Republic of Korea, 2021
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Lee Ji-Yeon
Kwon Jeong-Ran
Shin Een-Suk
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Abstract
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 3 billion people live in dog-mediated rabies endemic areas. Stray dogs are the most common transmitter of the rabies virus, with 99% of human deaths caused by dog-mediated rabies. Despite goals to eradicate dog-mediated rabies worldwide, the virus remains an under-reported neglected zoonosis with a case-fatality rate of almost 100% in humans and animals. Although 100% preventable, dog-mediated rabies causes tens of thousands of human deaths. However, due to the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) eradication efforts, there have not been any confirmed cases of human rabies since 2005. Nevertheless, animal bite patients have been reported due to an increase in outdoor activities and international travel. Since 2011, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has enhanced the National Animal Bite Patient Surveillance (NABPS) to effectively monitor animal-associated bite incidents. The aim of this report was to analyze the KDCA’s 2021 animal bite and rabies surveillance. Findings indicated that the numbers of animal bite cases increased from 359 in 2005 to 670 in 2019, but it was estimated that the number decreased to 130 in 2021 because of COVID-19, which limited people’s domestic and, international travel and because of Korea’s dog leash promotion. This report analyzed characteristics of animal bite cases recorded on the NABPS system from January 1 to December 31, 2021. Among the 130 cases reported in 2021, males (51.0%) had a higher incidence of animal bites than females (49.0%) and the highest incidence of animal bites was observed in the 60-69 years of age group (20.7%). By time, the higher proportion of bite incidents occurred May (15.3%). Also, the geographical frequency was the highest in Gangwon Province (63.1%). Lastly, at 80.7%, domestic dogs were the most common biting animal. To minimize the risk of animal bites and rabies, it is essential that the ROK maintain its rabies-free status through an enhanced national rabies control program.
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KEYWORD
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Human rabies, Animal rabies, Bite, Bite patient, Dog bite
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