Epidemiosurveillance of animal rabies in Belgium: a single case recorded in 1999

During 1999, rabies was confirmed in one bovine in the <<commune>> of Basto gne in southern Belgium (province of Luxemburg). The last case of fox rabie s was recorded on the 3rd of April 1998 in the same commune. During 1999, t wo aerial vaccinations were carried out in April and October (baiting densi ty: 17 baits per km(2)) and an additional campaign of cubs vaccination was performed in May by distributing manually about 10-20 baits per breeding de n. Furthermore, a small scale emergency distribution baits was also conduct ed in early September. Results from both tetracycline (biomarker) and rabie s antibodies detection tests showed that the vaccination campaign carried o ut in April 1999 was the most efficient. Thanks to an appropriate strategy of fox vaccination and a good cross-border cooperation, the last residual r abies focus in Belgium is being to be eliminated.