ROUND-TABLE ON EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF FOX RABIES

The current epizootic of rabies in Europe has as its main host the fox. Oral vaccination of the fox population has proven to be particularly effective. It is clear that the major components for a successful vaccination programme are a potent and stable vaccine, and an effective baiting system; the latter should attract the target animal but no non-target species. Recently, vaccines of increased stability have been generated; amongst these is a vaccinia recombinant virus which expresses rabies virus glycoprotein. Consequently, both attenuated live virus vaccines and a recombinant vaccine are available for routine field vaccination of the fox population.