Incidences and characteristics of monkey-related injuries among locals and tourists in Mueng District, Lopburi Province, 2013 - 2017
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Abstract
Background: Conflicts between monkeys and humans are increasing, mainly because of urbanization and deforestation. Mueng district of Lopburi Province is one of the greatest conflict areas in Thailand, where public
health concerned of zoonoses transmission from monkey - bites and scratches are high. Currently, there is no
epidemiological research of monkey-related injuries in Thailand.
Objectives: The purposes of this study were to determine incidence of monkey-related injuries and investigate
trends and characteristics of the injured cases in Mueng District, Lopburi Province, in 2013 - 2017.
Methods: A cross - sectional analytical study was conducted to compare monkey-related injuries and investigate
the incidences between locals, Thai, and foreign tourists by collecting secondary data from medical records in
3 hospitals in the study area. The cumulative incidences were used to calculate relative risk between the tourists
and the locals. Characteristics of the injury cases are presented by frequency and percentage.
Results: Yearly incidences of locals, Thais, and foreign tourists were in range of 9.16 - 18.33, 190.16 - 379.13, and
254.07 – 736.91 per 100,000 population, respectively. The trend of injury was remarkably increased in foreign
tourists. Recently, in 2016 - 2017, Thai and foreign tourists had relative risks of injury estimated as 20 and 40 times
compared to that of the local, respectively. Time, place and circumstance of injury, and wound site suggested
monkey provisioning with food as the main risk factor of monkey-related injuries.
Conclusion: The incidences of monkey-related injury was highest in foreign tourists, followed by Thai tourists.
Preventive measures should primarily focus on the tourists, such as training on safety behaviors with monkey,
promoting pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and providing safeguards, warning signs, first aids stations at
monkey provisioning sites.