Maintenance of rabies-free areas

Rabies is endemic in many parts of the world and is maintained in particular host species. Surveillance activities in areas that have remained rabies free or that have succeeded in eliminating the rabies virus (RABV) must continue, so as to effectively detect any infected animals in a timely manner. Rabies should be classified as a notifiable disease both in animals and in humans, irrespective of the rabies status of the country, and the establishment of a legal framework for biting animals is of the utmost importance. The maintenance of rabies-free status depends, in part, on the geographical situation of a country. A wide range of measures have proven effective, such as the maintenance of the mass vaccination of dogs, the establishment of cordons sanitaires to prevent the reincursion of sylvatic (wildlife) rabies, the application of human prophylaxis, the implementation of strict measures for travelling with companion animals (mainly domestic dogs and cats) and risk-based surveillance. Awareness regarding rabies among personnel working at border entry points as well as among the general public, veterinarians and general practitioners is also a major factor in ensuring the effectiveness of the surveillance network. Cross-border threats, even for islands, strengthen the need for regional cooperation, irrespective of the rabies status of the countries involved. Another important measure is the maintenance of adequate laboratory capacity for rapid and reliable diagnosis.