A case of human rabies with a long incubation period in Wuhan. (2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shengli, Meng; Qian, Li; Yan, Sun; Wenjuan, Wu; Jie, Wu; Jinrong, Shi; Zejun, Wang; Xingguo, Li
• Is Part Of: IDCases. Volume 23(2020)
• Publication Date: 2021
• Subjects: Glycoprotein gene sequences -- Human rabies -- Rabies virus; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Case Reports; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2020.e00998
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-2509

Abstract

Highlights: We report one case of human rabies with a long incubation period in Wuhan, China. In Wuhan, many free-roaming dogs are not only dangerous to domestic dogs and livestock, they are also a threat to humans. Epidemiology of rabies with emphasis on its potential to spread in urban-rural fringe in Wuhan has been discussed. The elimination of RABV from free-roaming domestic dogs will drive a considerable reduction in human disease. We showed that the efficient collaboration was important between the hospital and a professional laboratory for rabies diagnosis. Abstract: Rabies remains endemic in China and continues to pose a major threat to public health with a nearly 100 % case fatality rate in humans. We confirmed a case of human rabies in Wuhan, in May 2018. The patient had got a dog bite wound 3 years before symptoms of confusion, hydrophobia, and photophobia onset. On May 14, our laboratory confirmed that the patient was infected with a rabies virus that circulates in dogs in China and died on May 24, two weeks later after admission. Complete glycoprotein gene sequences determined for this isolate indicated the source of a RABV infection was dog-related RABV variants.