[Rabies in Poland in 1997]

Mass oral vaccination of wild animals against rabies introduced in 1993, shows a positive impact on the epizootic situation of rabies in Poland. In parallel to the decreasing number of rabies cases in animal, the number of persons exposed to rabid parallel animals declines. No case of rabies in human beings has been reported in Poland since 1986. Of 7566 persons vaccinated in Poland against rabies only 1492 (19.7%) were bitten by or were in contact with a rabid animal. Main reason of vaccination against rabies were contact with animals of category C (rabies not excluded) (68.8%) and with animals healthy during the exposition (category D) (11.5%).