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Volume 26, Number 7—July 2020
Research

Bat and Lyssavirus Exposure among Humans in Area that Celebrates Bat Festival, Nigeria, 2010 and 2013

Neil M. VoraComments to Author , Modupe O.V. Osinubi, Lora Davis, Mohammed Abdurrahman, Elizabeth B. Adedire, Henry Akpan, Abimbola F. Aman-Oloniyo, Solomon W. Audu, Dianna Blau, Raymond S. Dankoli, Ajoke M. Ehimiyein, James A. Ellison, Yemi H. Gbadegesin, Lauren Greenberg, Dana Haberling, Christina Hutson, Jibrin M. Idris, Grace S.N. Kia, Maruf Lawal, Samson Y. Matthias, Philip P. Mshelbwala, Michael Niezgoda, Albert B. Ogunkoya, Abiodun O. Ogunniyi, Gloria C. Okara, Babasola O. Olugasa, Okechukwu P. Ossai, Akin Oyemakinde, Marissa K. Person, Charles E. Rupprecht, Olugbon A. Saliman, Munir Sani, Olufunmilayo A. Sanni-Adeniyi, P.S. Satheshkumar, Todd G. Smith, Mariat O. Soleye, Ryan M. Wallace, Sebastian K. Yennan, and Sergio Recuenco
Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (N.M. Vora, M.O.V. Osinubi, L. Davis, D. Blau, J.A. Ellison, L. Greenberg, D. Haberling, C. Hutson, M. Niezgoda, M.K. Person, C.E. Rupprecht, P.S. Satheshkumar, T.G. Smith, R.M. Wallace, S. Recuenco); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria (M. Abdurrahman, S.W. Audu, A.M. Ehimiyein, G.S.N. Kia, M. Lawal, A.B. Ogunkoya, M. Sani); African Field Epidemiology Network, Abuja, Nigeria (E.B. Adedire, J.M. Idris, G.C. Okara); Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja (H. Akpan, A. Oyemakinde, O.A. Sanni-Adeniyi); Walden University, Abuja (A.F. Aman-Oloniyo); World Health Organization, Borno, Nigeria (R.S. Dankoli); Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology, Ibadan, Nigeria (Y.H. Gbadegesin); Ministry of Health, Kaduna State, Kaduna, Nigeria (S.Y. Matthias); University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (P.P. Mshelbwala); University of Ibadan, Ibadan (A.B. Ogunkoya, B.O. Olugasa); Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja (A.O. Ogunniyi, S.K. Yennan); Ministry of Health, Enugu State, Enugu, Nigeria (O.P. Ossai); Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ilorin, Nigeria (O.A. Saliman); Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja (M.O. Soleye)

Main Article

Table 4

Characteristics associated with experiencing a febrile illness within 90 days of the bat festival in a community survey of bat exposures, Idanre area, Nigeria, 2013*

Characteristic Febrile illness within 90 d of bat festival, no. (%), n = 23 No febrile illness within 90 d of bat festival, no. (%), n = 147 p value OR (95% CI)
Demographics
Mean age (SD) 47 (18) 43 (17) 0.39 NA
Age range, min–max 18–80 18–89 NA NA
Median age (interquartile range) 47 (32–65) 38 (30–55) NA NA
Age <25 y 2 (9) 18 (12) 0.63 0.68 (0.14–3.27)
Male sex
 13 (57)
 80 (54)
 0.85
 1.09 (0.45–2.65)
Education
Some secondary or above 11 (48) 65 (44) 0.73 1.16 (0.51–2.61)
Completed secondary or above
 9 (39)
 40 (27)
 0.21
 1.72 (0.74–4.00)
Household characteristics
Persons in household
<5 persons 7 (30) 38 (26) 0.66 1.25 (0.46–3.41)
<10 persons 18 (78) 97 (66) 0.31 1.86 (0.56–6.15)
  Main material used to build house
Adobe/mud 14 (61) 71 (48) 0.29 1.67 (0.65–4.24)
Cement/brick 9 (39) 76 (52) Referent Referent
Wood 0 0 NP NP
Openings present in house that could allow bats to enter 14 (61) 91 (62) 0.93 0.96 (0.38–2.44)
Household with animals† 12 (52) 68 (46) 0.62 1.27 (0.50–3.24)
Household with >1 animal† that has been vaccinated against rabies
 2 (17)
 6 (9)
 0.43
 2.07 (0.34–12.64)
Bat contact within past 90 d‡
Any bat contact 3 (13) 40 (27) 0.15 0.40 (0.11–1.40)
Touched a bat with skin uncovered 3 (13) 40 (27) 0.15 0.40 (0.11–1.40)
Bitten by bat 1 (4) 10 (7) 0.66 0.62 (0.07–5.21)
Scratched by bat
1 (4)
 15 (10)
 0.39
 0.40 (0.05–3.22)
Other bat-related activities within past 90 d
Participated in bat festival 1 (4) 34 (23) 0.07 0.15 (0.02–1.17)
Entered a bat cave or bat refuge 1 (4) 18 (12) 0.29 0.33 (0.04–2.61)
Prepared a bat as food 7 (30) 57 (39) 0.45 0.69 (0.26–1.82)
Eaten a bat
7 (30)
 56 (38)
 0.49
 0.71 (0.27–1.87)
Knowledge
Indicated animal bites as mechanism of rabies transmission 13 (57) 78 (53) 0.74 1.15 (0.51–2.62)
Described rabies as severe 13 (57) 84 (57) 0.95 0.98 (0.43–2.23)
Identified bats as a rabies source 1 (4) 3 (2) 0.49 2.18 (0.24–20.11)
Identified dogs as a rabies source
 16 (70)
 84 (57)
 0.26
 1.71 (0.67–4.36)
If bitten or scratched by a bat
Wash wound with soap and water 0 5 (3) NP NP
Seek medical care 9 (39) 52 (35) 0.70 1.17 (0.51–2.69)
Seek a traditional healer or pray 2 (9) 5 (3) 0.24 2.70 (0.52–13.97)
Do nothing
 9 (39)
 69 (47)
 0.50
 0.73 (0.28–1.85)
If bitten by a potentially rabid animal
Wash wound with soap and water 0 1 (1) NP NP
Seek medical care 16 (70) 92 (63) 0.53 1.37 (0.51–3.64)
Seek a traditional healer or pray 3 (13) 4 (3) 0.03 5.36 (1.17–24.48)
Do nothing
 3 (13)
 33 (22)
 0.32
 0.52 (0.14–1.89)
History of rabies vaccination
 1 (4)
 1 (1)
 0.19
 6.64 (0.39–111.64)
Aware that bats can cause disease other than rabies
 3 (13)
 6 (4)
 0.08
 3.53 (0.86–14.40)
Know of reports of illness as a result of bats or being in bat cave 2 (9) 1 (1) 0.03 13.90 (1.25–154.63)

*NA, not applicable or not calculated; NP, logistic regression could not be performed due to zero cells; OR, odds ratio.
†Pet or livestock.
‡Bat contact was defined as having touched a bat, having been bitten by a bat, or having been scratched by a bat.

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Page created: March 25, 2020
Page updated: June 18, 2020
Page reviewed: June 18, 2020
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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