Medycyna Wet. 64 (1), 68-71, 2008
Smreczak M., Trębas P., Żmudziński J. F.
Rabies in Poland in 2006
The paper describes data concerning rabies in domestic animals, wildlife and bats in Poland in 2006. It analyses the rabies situation based on species participation and geographical distribution of rabies outbreaks. 82 rabies cases were diagnosed in 2006. Nineteen were recorded in domestic animals, 59 in wildlife and 4 were found in bats. There was a notable decrease of rabies cases in terrestrial animals when comparing the number of rabies cases in two successive years – 2005 and 2006. But there was a change in the occurrence of the highest number of rabies cases from the Wielkopolska Voivodship to Masuria, Podlaska and Lubelska Voivodaships (Northern and Eastern Poland). Most rabies cases in these areas have clustered along the borders of neighboring countries (Russia – Kaliningrad Region, Lithuania, Byelorussia and Ukraine). The data presented in this article indicates that the epizootic situation of rabies in Poland is under control and a decrease of rabies cases diagnosed in terrestrial animals may be expected in future years. Fox is still the main reservoir of rabies and, therefore, oral vaccination as a method of eradicating rabies should be carried out over the coming years.
Keywords: rabies, epidemiological situation