Epidemiological panorama of human rabies in Northeastern Brazil from 2013 to 2017

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this study was to report the number of rabies cases in the Northeast in the period from 2013 to 2017 and to identify aspects correlated to the epidemiological panorama of their distribution. Methodology: Information from the Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN), "Brazil in Synthesis", were used for data collection. The Northeastern region accounted for more than half of the confirmed cases of human rabies in Brazil (67%). Results: Most of the cases in the Northeast affected males (89%), adults aged 20-39 years (56%), residents of urban areas (56%), most of them being aggressions by animals not vaccinated (80%). Conclusion: Human rabies in the Northeast appears to be linked to low human development rates, lack of information regarding infection pathways and disease severity, inadequate post-exposure prophylaxis, and discontinuation of treatment. In addition, the possible underreporting of suspected cases hampers the actions of local health authorities.