Epidemiological study of canine and human rabies in southern Benin: A retrospective analysis (2012–2017)

Rabies is a significant zoonotic disease triggered by a lyssavirus from the Rhabdoviridae family. In human cases, domestic dogs are responsible for 99% of transmissions, and the virus is invariably fatal once clinical symptoms manifest. Although control initiatives have been launched in several major cities across Benin, the disease remains endemic, and comprehensive epidemiological data continues to be scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of rabies control efforts in Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, and Ouidah. A retrospective survey from 2012 to 2017 was conducted, analyzing data from 17 veterinary clinics and four health centers specializing in animal bite treatment. Of the 900 biting dogs identified, only 770 were placed under veterinary surveillance, with 53 confirmed cases of canine rabies. During the same period, 1,436 dog bites were recorded in health centers, leading to 287 clinical cases of human rabies and subsequent deaths. Men were more frequently affected (55.22%), and children aged 1 to 14 years accounted for 45.89% of the bite victims. The incidence of human rabies in Cotonou dropped from 4.86 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2013 to 1.44 in 2017, whereas in Abomey-Calavi, it rose sharply from 4.57 to 16.71. In Ouidah, the incidence rates remained largely unchanged. These findings highlight that rabies persists as a critical public health challenge in Benin, requiring urgent and enhanced eradication measures to be implemented