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Epidemiosurveillance of rabies in Belgium: One rabies case recorded in 1998

Abstract:

During 1998, rabies was confirmed in one fox killed in Bastogne in southern Belgium (province of Luxemburg). As compared with the epidemiological situation observed during the previous year (8 cases), there is a significant decrease of rabies incidence; a consequence of the strategy of fox vaccination, that was adapted since 1996 to control a rabies reinfection focus, in the presence of a high density of fox population. During this year, two aerial vaccinations were carried out in March-April and October-November (baiting density: 17 baits per km2) and an additional campaign of cubs vaccination was performed in May by distributing manually about 10-20 baits per breeding den. Results from both tetracycline (biomarker) and rabies antibodies detection tests showed that the vaccination campaign carried out in March-April 1998 was the most efficient.Thanks to the modified strategy of fox vaccination and a good cross-border cooperation, the reinfection rabies focus that occurred in 1994-1995 was controlled.