Abstract:
Rabies is an infectious disease found in all species of homeothermic animals, characterized by acute evolution with nervous
manifestations expressed by hyperexcitability and aggression followed by paralysis and death. Rabies is a serious viral
zoonosis caused by the Rabies virus that affects domestic animals, wild animals and humans. Being one of the most serious
zoonoses, rabies is a disease of great economic and sanitary importance. In countries where outbreaks of rabies in domestic
and wild animals are confirmed, the economic importance is given by the losses due to animal mortality but also by the
costs that affect the budgets of the respective states for the implementation of surveillance programs disease control and
eradication.
As the fox is the main reservoir of rabies in Europe, the measures established by the oral vaccination (ORV) programs of
foxes have resulted in the reduction of the incidence of rabies in many Western European countries.
Anti-rabies vaccination of foxes takes place in regular campaigns carried out over several years, according to the annual
decisions of the European Commission.
Since 2011, a program co-financed by the European Union for oral vaccination of foxes has been implemented in Romania,
divided into two campaigns per year, in spring and autumn.
The anti-rabies vaccination of foxes is carried out throughout Romania, through the aerial distribution of vaccination
baits, complemented by their manual distribution. After 45 days from the distribution of the vaccine, the fox hunting
action begins, 4 foxes/year/100 km in order to take samples to test the effectiveness of the vaccination.
