EMERGENCE OF RACCOON RABIES IN CONNECTICUT, 1991-1994 - SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL, INFECTION AND HUMAN CONTACT

The North American raccoon rabies epizootic continues to expand, now a ffecting most of New England. In 1990, raccoons became the vertebrate most often reported rabid in the United States. Emergence of this zoon osis poses increasing, but poorly defined risks to humans. This study analyzed various demographic, environmental, and behavioral factors as sociated with animal infection and human exposure before and during th e epizootic in Connecticut. Rabies virus infections among terrestrial vertebrates were analyzed from 1985 through 1994. From March 1991, whe n the first case was diagnosed, through December 1994, 2,522 of 13,147 animals tested were found positive for rabies viral antigen. Forty-se ven percent of the raccoons tested were infected, representing 88.0% o f all animals found positive. Domestic animals constituted only 1.7% o f positive test results, but 40.6% of the tests performed. The epizoot ic wave of transmission advanced approximately 30 km/year. Most rabies -positive wild animals were taken from private properties, usually nea r houses. Possible human exposures involved 939 people on 556 occasion s through direct contact (20.7%) or indirectly through another animal (79.3%). Of 3,239 domestic animals exposed to rabies-positive wild ani mals, 18.4% lacked vaccination. Rabies has become enzootic in Connecti cut and risk to humans and animals persists. The public health burden is considerable, yet knowledge is lacking to develop sustainable preve ntion strategies.