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Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2020 .

Authors :
Xiaoyue Ma
Bonaparte, Sarah
Toro, Matthew
Orciari, Lillian A.
Gigante, Crystal M.
Kirby, Jordona D.
Chipman, Richard B.
Fehlner-Gardiner, Christine
Gutiérrez Cedillo, Veronica
Aréchiga-Ceballos, Nidia
Rao, Agam K.
Petersen, Brett W.
Wallace, Ryan M.
Source :
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Jul2022, Vol. 260 Issue 10, p1157-1165. 9p.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo provide epidemiological information on animal and human cases of rabies in the US during 2020 and summaries of 2020 rabies surveillance for Canada and Mexico.ANIMALSAll animals submitted for laboratory diagnosis of rabies in the US during 2020.PROCEDURESState and territorial public health departments and USDA Wildlife Services provided 2020 rabies surveillance data. Data were analyzed temporally and geographically to assess trends in domestic and wildlife rabies cases.RESULTSDuring 2020, 54 jurisdictions submitted 87,895 animal samples for rabies testing, of which 85,483 (97.3%) had a conclusive (positive or negative) test result. Of these, 4,479 (5.2%) tested positive for rabies, representing a 4.5% decrease from the 4,690 cases reported in 2019. Texas (n = 580 [12.9%]), Pennsylvania (371 [8.3%]), Virginia (351 [7.8%]), New York (346 [7.7%]), North Carolina (301 [6.7%]), New Jersey (257 [5.7%]), Maryland (256 [5.7%]), and California (248 [5.5%]) together accounted for > 60% of all animal rabies cases reported in 2020. Of the total reported rabid animals, 4,090 (91.3%) involved wildlife, with raccoons (n = 1,403 [31.3%]), bats (1,400 [31.3%]), skunks (846 [18.9%]), and foxes (338 [7.5%]) representing the primary hosts confirmed with rabies. Rabid cats (288 [6.4%]), cattle (43 [1.0%]), and dogs (37 [0.8%]) accounted for 95% of rabies cases involving domestic animals in 2020. No human rabies cases were reported in 2020.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCEFor the first time since 2006, the number of samples submitted for rabies testing in the US was < 90,000; this is thought to be due to factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as similar decreases in sample submission were also reported by Canada and Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00031488
Volume :
260
Issue :
10
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
158296730
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.22.03.0112