[Rabies in Poland in 2000]

In Poland in 2000, one case of human rabies was reported. It has been the first case of human rabies since 1986. The person with rabies was bitten by cat and has not received post-exposure treatment. Mass oral vaccination of wild animals against rabies which was introduced in 1993, showed a positive impact on the epizootic situation of rabies in Poland. However, we observed two-fold increase of animal rabies cases this year. Sources of wild and domestic animal rabies are present on the north-east, east, and south-east parts of the country, uncovered by oral vaccination. Out of 9,210 persons vaccinated in Poland against rabies, 2,587 (19%) were bitten by or were in contact with a rabid animals. Main reason for vaccination against rabies were contacts with animals category C (rabies not excluded, 5,741 cases; 62%) or category D (animals healthy during the exposition, 882 cases; 10%).