Outbreak of rabies among humans, dogs and livestock, Awutu-Senya East Municipality, Ghana, 2019

Introduction: Rabies is a neglected zoonotic disease caused by the Rabies virus (RABV). Ninety-percent of human rabies are dog-mediated. Globally there are 59,000 human rabies annually. On June 16 2019, a 4-year-old girl from the Awutu-Senya East Municipal of Ghana, died following symptoms of aggression, hyper-salivation and hydrophobia. She had a dog scratch five weeks prior. We confirmed the outbreak, determined its magnitude, identified associated factors and implemented control measures. Methods: We interviewed community members to understand potential exposures to RABV. We reviewed the animal bite records, clinical notes of human rabies cases and initial line-list. We conducted community-based rabies surveillance for animal bites and confirmed RABV by Polymerase Chain Reaction of brain tissue of dead human and animals. We updated the line-list with demographic, exposure, and outcome variables of bite victims. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively, and findings presented as frequencies and proportions. Results: Overall, 155 dog bites were identified, among which six human rabies deaths were recorded (Attack rate=3.9%). Males were 51.6% (80/155) of bite victims, whiles children 5-14 years constituted 27% (40/147). About 86.5% (134/155) of bites were by unvaccinated dogs, and stray dogs bit 80.6% (125/155) of individuals. Category III bites were 35% (50/141). RABV was isolated from 16.7% (1/6) of human deaths and 30% (3/10) of rabid dog. We suspected rabies infection in a goat. Dogs roamed unattended within communities. Conclusion: This rabies outbreak was dog-mediated. Poor pet ownership and limited vaccination of dogs were associated factors. Mass dog vaccination, prompt post-exposure prophylaxis and risk communication were critical interventions implemented

Economic impact assessment of highly pathogenic avian influenza on the poultry industry in Ghana

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Economic impact assessment of highly pathogenic avain influenza on the poultry industry in Ghana

This paper estimates the economic costs of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) to the poultry industry at the farm and sub-sector levels, and examines the benefits of controlling and preventing the spread of HPAI in Ghana. The scare in 2006 and outbreaks in 2007 have affected consumption of poultry products such as chicken meat and eggs, which sharply dropped by 51% and 64%, respectively. Economic losses due to the HPAI threat, and outbreaks to rural and commercial poultry producers, including those of egg and live bird sellers, have been estimated at US$26.3 million. These losses are due to the destruction of infected eggs and day-old chicks and a drop in market prices (of up to 25A total of 40,727 birds from 35 farms died due to HPAI, of which 33$160,000 in compensation paid to producers of culled birds; expenditures for containment of the disease at source and control measures to minimize risk of HPAI such as depopulation, decontamination. A ban on movement of poultry products between 2006 and 2007 amounted to US$4.3 million. These control measures eventually prevented the country losing 99.88$ 416 million