First human rabies case in French Guiana, 2008: epidemiological investigation and control.

Background: Until 2008, human rabies had never been reported in French Guiana. On 28 May 2008, the French National Reference Center for Rabies (Institut Pasteur, Paris) confirmed the rabies diagnosis, based on hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction on skin biopsy and saliva specimens from a Guianan, who had never travelled overseas and died in Cayenne after presenting clinically typical meningoencephalitis.

Methodology/principal Findings: Molecular typing of the virus identified a Lyssavirus (Rabies virus species), closely related to those circulating in hematophagous bats (mainly Desmodus rotundus) in Latin America.

Imported episodic rabies increases patient demand for and physician delivery of antirabies prophylaxis.

Background: Imported cases threaten rabies reemergence in rabies-free areas. During 2000-2005, five dog and one human rabies cases were imported into France, a rabies-free country since 2001. The Summer 2004 event led to unprecedented media warnings by the French Public Health Director.

Is there a need for anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulins rationing in Europe?

Rabies is a lethal encephalitis caused by a lyssavirus and transmitted from animals to humans via bite wound, scratch wound, or licking of mucous membranes. It is preventable by timely administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) consisting of four or five doses of rabies vaccine combined, in the most severe cases of exposures, with anti-rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). Although the rabies incidence in humans remains low, rabies is still present in some European countries.

European bat Lyssavirus transmission among cats, Europe.

We identified 2 cases of European bat lyssavirus subtype 1 transmission to domestic carnivores (cats) in France. Bat-to-cat transmission is suspected. Low amounts of virus antigen in cat brain made diagnosis difficult.

Epidemiology and prophylaxis of rabies in humans in France: evaluation and perspectives of a twenty-five year surveillance programme.

The National Reference Centre for Rabies (NRC) was created at the Pasteur Institute after the fox epizootic reached the French territory. The missions of the NRC include, among others, the surveillance of rabies cases in humans and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatments. The surveillance has been effective since 1982.

[Human rabies in France in 2004: update and management].

Twenty people died of rabies in France between 1970 and 2003 (compared to 55,000 yearly worldwide), 80% on returning from Africa. Dogs were the contaminating animals in 90% of the cases and children were the most common victims. The last instance of rabies in a native French animal was reported in 1998.

Human rabies prophylactics: the French experience.

In 1968, fox rabies was introduced on the French territory, in the Moselle department and from that time, spread southwards and westwards from the French-German border at the speed of 40 km per year. Consequently, a program aimed at controlling and eradicating the disease was carried out. Collaboration between human and veterinary medicine has been the key of the success of this program.

[Rabies is a risk for travelling children].

Rabies remains a dreadful disease which kills about 50,000 people per year, mostly in Asia, Africa, South America and Central Europe. Between 30% an 50% of the victims are young children. Modern rabies vaccines are safe and immunogenic.

[A case of pulmonary hemosiderosis associated with rhumatoid arthritis with LE cells (author's transl)].

In a three and a half old girl, we have noticed the apparition: first, of on idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis; then, five months later, of a rheumatoid arthritis with LE cells and antinuclear antibodies of very difficult detection. The meaning of this articular involvement is discussed: rheumatoid arthritis with LE cells, or rheumatoid arthritis marking the beginning of a systemic lupud erythematosus. The literature concerning the association of an hemosiderosis and a connectivite is reviewed.