The rabies situation in Western Europe

Abstract

This analysis of the present rabies situation in Western Europe is based on completed questionnaires from 16 countries. The questionnaire focuses on the years 2005 and 2006. Additional information was obtained from the Rabies Bulletin Europe, and from the OIE's publication on "Historical Perspective of Rabies in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin". Rabies in domestic animals and wild carnivores has become very rare in Western Europe. Only Germany reported a low number of rabid foxes for 2005. Bat rabies was observed in four countries. One imported human case was seen in the UK, while Germany reported four cases in transplant recipients. Wildlife vaccination campaigns were conducted by Austria, Germany and France. Reporting of human post-exposure prophylaxis is inconsistent due the lack of information. Similarly, data on domestic animal rabies prophylaxis seem to be difficult to collect.