The rabies elimination programme in Estonia using oral rabies vaccination of wildlife: preliminary results

The first case of sylvatic rabies in Estonia was recorded in 1968. Rabies is maintained in raccoon dogs and red foxes. The main prophylactic means used in animals up to 2005 consisted of compulsory vaccination of dogs and cats. In October 2005, the first large scale wildlife oral vaccination campaign was carried out in the northern part of the country (25,800 km2) from the western to the eastern border, including islands. In 2006, two campaigns were conducted across the country. Rabies surveillance and the efficacy of oral vaccination were assessed by a follow-up of rabies incidence and bait consumption (tetracycline examination). As a result, the number of rabies cases decreased drastically in 2005 and 2006 with a total of 266 and 114 animal cases, respectively. These results will be discussed in the context of rabies epidemiological surveillance in Estonia and in Europe.