EPIDEMIOSURVEILLANCE OF RABIES IN BELGIUM- 1996 ASSESSMENT

In 1996, strategies of fox vaccination were modified and adapted to co ntrol a rabies reinfection focus, in the presence of a fox population of a high density. Two aerial vaccinations were carried out during the cold season, the baiting density was increased to a rate of 17 bails per square km(2) and an additional campaign of cubs Vaccination was pe rformed by distributing manually about 10-20 baits per breeding den. D uring this year, rabies was confirmed in 28 foxes, 1 badger, 1 stone m arten and 14 domestic animals collected in southern Belgium (provinces of Luxemburg, Namur and Hainaut). As compared with the epidemiologica l situation observed in 1995, these cases demonstrated a decrease of r abies incidence. Results from both tetracycline (biomarker) and rabies antibodies detection tests showed that protection against rabies was confered to a sufficient fraction of the fox population. Thanks to an adapted strategy of fox vaccination and a good cross-border cooperatio n, the reinfection rabies focus is almost under control.