RABIES CONTROL IN BRAZIL FROM 1980 TO 199 0

The epidemiological situation of rabies in Brazil at the period of 198 0 to 1990, when the National Program for Rabies Prevention was impleme nted on a national scale, and which yielded positive results, is prese nted. The main controling actions carried out in order to achieve thes e results are also described. Rabies in Brasil registered a considerab le decrease in human and canine cases (78% and 90%, respectively), hal f way through the series of analyses undertaken for this study. Toward s the end of the decade the disease began to recrudesce, several cases occurring in some parts of the country mainly in the northeastern reg ion, where 70% of the total number of infections for 1990 was recorded . Moreover, human rabies transmitted by bats experienced a considerabl e increase, accounting for 15.1% of the total. The Program which is im plemented by State and Municipal authorities. Covers the $350,000 peop le who are attacked by animals, and vaccinates approximately 9,000,000 animals every annually year. Epidemiological control is considered to be of basic importance, so that indicators for the definition of the areas of risk have been developed.