EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION ON AND PROBLEMS OF IDENTIFICATION OF RABIES VIRUS IN HUMANS IN THE TERRITORY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION DURING THE PERIOD OF 2002–2015
The article presents the results of bioassays investigation by the specialists of the Center for Special Laboratory Diagnostics of Particularly Dangerous and Exotic Infectious Diseases, isolated during 2002–2015, obtained from deceased people suspected for rabies virus infection. Outlined are the main challenges of working with the received samples of biological material from dead people and ways of handling these issues. Put forward are the pressing problems of epizootic and epidemiological bias that require comprehensive solutions on the part of healthcare authorities and the veterinary service of the Russian Federation. Given are the results of the laboratory-diagnostic activities of the Center for Special Laboratory Diagnostics of Particularly Dangerous and Exotic Infectious Diseases, which indicate that the applied methods of isolation and identification of the rabies pathogen allow for efficient and in-time diagnosis of the disease.