The Rabies Situation inWestern Europe

Alexander I. Wandeler

OLF, CFIA

Ottawa, Canada

Western Europe Eastern Europe Central Asia Middle East Far East Asia

The Rabies Situation inWestern Europe

• Comments to the history of rabies in

Western Europe

• The questionnaire survey covering 2005

and 2006

The spread of fox rabies in Europe

From Wachendörfer and Frost, 1992

Prevalence Periodicity and Control

from Wandeler, 1991

from U. Müller & U. Breitenmoser, 2004

100

% 100

80

60

40

20

100

80

60

40

20

80

60

40

20

0

A B C h = 2.5 km

h = 10 km

h = 30 km

1970197 5

19801970

197 51980

1970197 5

19801985

19841984

Questionnaire Survey ResultsRabies in 2005 and 2006

• Questionnaire composed of easy queries

and of difficult questions

• 16 completed questionnaires received

Questionnaire Survey ResultsRabies in 2005 and 2006

• Rabies a notifiable disease in all countries

yes nono answer

human legislation 9 5 2

animal legislation 15 1 0

Animals examined in 2005 and 2006

2005 2006

neg pos neg pos

dogs + cats 1009 0 662 0other domestic animals 851 1 505 0

foxes 30859 39 20475 5

raccoon dogs 403 0 130 0

other wildlife 2910 2 2192 0

bats 1427 28 1099 30

total 37259 70 25860 35

Questionnaire Survey ResultsPresence of Rabies in 2005 and 2006

• Rabies in dogs and cats: none• Rabies in foxes: 1 country (Germany)

1 case in Austria 1 case in Denmark = EBL

• Rabies in raccoon dogs: none• Rabies in bats: 4 countries (Germany Denmark Netherlands

France)

Bulk of examinations: Germany and Austria

Rabies cases in foxes in 2005 and 2006Source: Rabies Bulletin Europe

Rabies cases in bats 2000 to 2006Source: Rabies Bulletin Europe

Rabies in Humans

2005: 1 case in UK (dog) 4 cases in Germany (organ transplant)

2006: none

Post Exposure Prophylaxis

2005 2006

Austria 558

Belgium 128 115

Denmark 94 85

France 5284

UK 398 445

Dogs – Dog Rabies Control

2005 2006 human: dog % vaccinated

Austria 620,000 13:1 24.8

Belgium 1,040,000 1,040,000 (10:1) 5.38

France 8,700,000 8,700,000 7.5:1 ?

Germany 5,000,000 5,000,000 20:1 ?

Luxembourg 32,000 35,000 14:1 71.5

UK 6,500,000 6,500,000 8:1

Fox Rabies Control

area covered (km2)Campaigns

per yearbait

density2005 2006 2007

Austria 12,620 11,212 11,212 2 25

France 4,300 0 0 2 20

Germany 26,420 23,290 11,500 3 30

Conclusions

• Fox rabies has practically disappeared from Western Europe

• Cats and dogs have not become a significant reservoir

• Rabies did not establish itself in raccoon dog populations

• Bat rabies is widespread

• Quality of surveillance is variable

Conclusions

• Vaccination coverage of dogs is variable

• Fox vaccination campaigns are gradually being abandoned

• Human post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is adequate

• There is still a high number of PEPs administered

Thank you for your attention