Spatiotemporal distributions of animal rabies disease outbreaks from 2018–2023 in western Amhara region, Ethiopia

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic viral disease that can be transmitted mostly by bites from an infected rabid dog. Every year, rabies kills many humans and animals in the western Amhara region due to the widespread nature of the disease and inadequate rabies prevention and control efforts. However, there is limited sub-regional level information on the extent of the disease. Therefore, we studied the sub-regional burden and distribution of rabies among animals. We conducted a retrospective descriptive study on rabies using data from the Bahir Dar animal health investigation and diagnostic laboratory over six years (2018–2023). We analyzed the incidence, mortality rates, and temporal and regional trends. Microsoft Excel and qGIS version 2.18 were used for descriptive and spatial analysis, respectively. The whole study showed that 152 outbreaks with 666 probable cases and 510 deaths occurred within six years of record keeping. There were 93 outbreaks in dogs, followed by 35 in cattle. The highest number of outbreaks, 37, happened in 2019. In comparison to other zones in the western Amhara region, the East Gojjam zone experienced the most outbreaks (60). In conclusion, rabies is a problem in western Amhara region, causing sickness and death of animals. It is recommended that the suspected case be confirmed and that the dog population be broadly vaccinated in order to prevent and control infections in the region.