Human rabies--Andrijevica in 1947
Cukić, G.
Medicinski Pregled 54(Suppl 1): 55-59
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-8105 PMID: 12078130 Document Number: 539306
The highest incidence of human rabies in Yugoslavia was recorded in the post-war years, between 1946 and 1949. Medical literature also quotes the epidemic of rabies mediated by a wolf in Andrijevica in 1947. Rabies was not confirmed in the wolf by laboratory findings, but the clinical picture of wolf rabies and the clinical findings in the infected and dead people indisputably confirmed the diagnosis. The parts and organs of the animal were not adequately preserved and transported. The wolf's head reached the reference laboratory, 12 days after the rabid animal had been killed. Laboratory tests on the material from the infected or dead people were not done. The data are supplemented by new facts. Epidemiological approach was used, and interviews with the participants and the members of the injured and deceased, as well as the citizens who were thought to be able to assist in the reconstruction of the events in 1947. The protocols of Pasteur Institute and the Public Records Office of Montenegro were consulted. The author points out that the patients showed "hydrophobia, laboured breathing..." which is an undisputed symptom of rabies, a clinical confirmation of the conclusion made based on the behaviour of the infected wolf. The barking of the household dogs and actions of the herds when they were protecting their animals are probably additional reasons of high exposure to the rabid wolf. Among several available data, the author points out that there were 28 injured and 9 infected persons. This gives a death rate of 32.1%. The described rabies epidemic has had the highest number of injured and dead in Montenegro and post-war Yugoslavia.