The Rabies Situation in Western Europe Alexander I. Wandeler OLF, CFIA Ottawa, Canada

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