@article{ref1,
title="Improving dog bite victim survey and estimation of annual human deaths due to  suspected rabies cases in three selected Liberian cities and environs, 2008-2017",
journal="PLoS neglected tropical diseases",
year="2020",
author="Olugasa, Babasola Oluseyi and Jomah, Nykoi Dormon and Dogba, John Bobo and Ishola, Olayinka Olabisi and Olarinmoye, Ayodeji Oluwadare and Adeola, Oluwagbenga Adebayo and Ojo, Johnson Funminiyi and Aldosari, Ali Abdullah",
volume="14",
number="12",
pages="e0008957-e0008957",
abstract="Rabies remains a public health challenge of unknown magnitude in Liberia in spite of  the goal of ensuring that no human in the country dies of rabies by 2030. The annual  prevalence of Dog Bite Victims (DBVs) and true load of Annual Human Deaths (AHDs)  due to rabies were not known. We investigated three selected cities of Liberia for  annual prevalence of DBVs and true load of AHD due to suspected rabies, using  10-year retrospective record, 2008-2017 obtained from Buchanan, Gbarnga, and  Voinjama, three socio-economically important cities in post-conflict Liberia. Data  were sourced at County Reference Hospitals and at the Liberia National Institute of  Health for these cities and their local environs. In addition, household  questionnaire survey was used to identify and audit data quality for unreported  DBVs, and treatment received from traditional caregivers. The proportion was used to  audit the 10-year data on unreported DBVs in the cities. Descriptive statistics was  used to summarize annual DBVs over the 10-year period in the three cities,  respectively. A standardized clinical decision tree model was used to estimate AHDs  due to suspected rabies. Based on questionnaire survey, 140/365, 148/375 and 146/350  DBVs did not visit any orthodox health facility in Buchanan, Gbarnga and Voinjama  cities, respectively in 2017. An estimated total of 559 DBVs died of suspected  rabies in the three cities and their environs during the 10-year period. Mean yearly  prevalence of DBVs was 179±106.82, 393±257.85 and 76.9±38.11 per 100,000 population,  while mean AHDs due to suspected rabies was 14.3±8.47, 35.5±23.25, and 6.1±3.21 per  100,000 population in Buchanan, Gbarnga, and Voinjama cities, respectively. The  present findings provide annual prevalence of suspected rabies cases, corrected for  under-reporting in three selected cities of Liberia. The findings would be useful in  planning for stepwise actions towards rabies elimination, ensuring that no human  dies of rabies in Liberia by 2030.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1935-2727",
doi="10.1371/journal.pntd.0008957",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008957"
}