Rabies control in Europe: an overview of past, current and future strategies

Europe's step-by-step approach to tackling canine and wildlife-mediated rabies has proven that the disease can be controlled and eliminated at the animal source. A decade of development work and support by the European Union has resulted in a successful oral rabies vaccination campaign for foxes and raccoon dogs, and provided the blueprint for eliminating wildlife-mediated rabies. In this paper, the authors examine the historical stages of animal rabies control and its eventual elimination in parts of Europe, particularly Western Europe. In addition, they consider current control measures and predict future challenges, many of which are faced by the vast and sparsely populated, rabies-endemic areas of Eastern Europe.