EPIDEMIOSURVEILLANCE OF RABIES IN BELGIUM - 1997 ASSESSMENT

During 1997, rabies was confirmed in 5 foxes and 3 cattle collected in southern Belgium (provinces of Luxemburg and Namur). Six out of these 8 cases occurred during the first trimester. As compared with the epi demiological situation observed during the previous year (44 cases), t here is a significant decrease of rabies incidence; a consequence of t he 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 during the cold season, (baiting density: 17 baits per km(2)) and an additional campaign of cubs vaccination was performed by distributing manually about 10-20 baits per breeding den. Results from both tetracy cline (biomarker) and rabies antibodies detection tests showed that pr otection against rabies was confered to the fraction of the fox popula tion that is required for rabies elimination. Thanks to the modified s trategy of fox vaccination and a good cross-border cooperation, the re infection rabies focus that occurred in 1994-1995 is likely to be cont rolled.