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ISDS 2016 Conference Abstracts

The prevalence of rabies cases in the territory of 
Azerbaijan, January 2015-June 2016
Nigar Safi*, Kliment Asadov, Shalala K. Zeynalova, Eldar Gasanov and Natig Javadov
State Veterinary Control Service, Baku, Azerbaijan

Objective
to show the instability of an epizootic situation on rabies cases 

of animals in the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the example of the 
cases analysis in Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System 
(EIDSS) electronic reporting system

Introduction
Rabies is an infectious disease which was and remains to be one 

of the most serious diseases of all species of hematothermal animals 
and humans, in many regions of the world. The epizootic situation on 
rabies in the Republic of Azerbaijan has been unfavorable for many 
years, which is confirmed by scientific data and the veterinary cases 
reporting in the EIDSS system. This system was introduced in the 
country in 2009 and is the electronic System of disease control. The 
program allows to provide monitoring and prevention of diseases 
within the concept “One World - One Health System” by integration 
of systems of observation of animal diseases, human diseases, and 
disease carriers.

Methods
On the basis of the data on rabies cases entered in special forms 

and also aggregative data collected on anti-rabies vaccination, the 
analysis of information on quantity of cases and their prevalence on 
administrative and territorial units (rayons) of the country is carried 
out. The graphical analysis (charts and the map) on the basis of 
necessary criteria are constituted in the analyses module, visualization 
of the AVR reporting and in the Microsoft Excel program.

Results
The analysis of the rabies cases confirmed at the Virology 

department of the Republican Veterinary Laboratory shows that 
rabies has been identified in 36 cases in 2015, 25 cases in January 
- June, 2016, in total 61 cases has been registered for the period 
of “January 2015 – June 2016”. An epizootologically unfavorable 
situation is revealed in 27 regions. The most unfavorable situation is 
the northwest regions of the country, the most part of which is covered 
with mountainy-forest area with domination of wild fauna. Specific 
structure of animals: dogs – 31 cases in 19 areas (51%), cattle – 21 
cases in 12 areas (34%), a small cattle-1 case (2%), wild animals 
(specify types) - 8 cases in 8 areas (13%) that is visually shown on 
charts 1 and 2. The cattle were bitten by wolves and jackals.

Conclusions
Thus, prevalence of rabies cases of different species of animals 

in the country, once again proves natural and focal character of the 
disease: the reservoir of rabies is in the wild nature and geographical 
conditions impact the spread of rabies.

Cases of rabies in animals are registered annually. In 2015, 
vaccination captured about 250000 dogs, and 244400 dogs were 
vaccinated in the first 6 months of 2016. Despite a huge group of 
vaccinations, restriction of rabies spread isn’t observed and the 
tendency is trending to the increase of rabies case indicators amongst 
the dogs.

It is necessary to pay close attention to preventive vaccination of 
domestic (including non-productive) animals. If materiel resources 

are available, it is possible to carry out the vaccination of the cattle 
in the territories adjacent to the forests. In the threatened territories 
with woodlands, there is no alternative to oral vaccinations, which 
is confirmed by positive experience of many countries. There is an 
extreme need of carrying out of oral vaccination of wild carnivorous 
animals with obligatory control of the immune status.

Keywords
rabies; detection; Electronic reporting; vaccination

*Nigar Safi
E-mail: hasanovag@state.gov

Online Journal of Public Health Informatics * ISSN 1947-2579 * http://ojphi.org * 9(1):e162, 2017