Wildlife rabies in Europe and the British situation

Abstract

The red fox is considered to be the main reservoir of the present European rabies epizootic which began in Poland in 1939-40. Its usual rate of spread is 20 to 60 km a year. Mortality among rabies-infected fox populations is estimated variously to be 20 to 60%. The infection spreads more rapidly among foxes in the autumn and winter and its occurrence is dependent on fox populations is estimated variously to be 20 to 60%. The infection spreads more rapidly among foxes in the autumn and winter and its occurrence is dependent on fox population densities, it being readily transmitted in populations numbering over one fox to a square kilometre. Subsequently it recurs with a periodicity of three to five years. Though it was described in continental Europe in historic times there is no evidence of dramatic outbreaks among wild carnivores in Britain at any time. Aspects of the behaviour and life history of the fox, pertinent to rabies control are described. Potentially, oral antirabies vaccination of foxes in the wild may be a useful control technique, but there are problems in achieving this. In Britain, quarantine evasion with domestic animals is a significant rabies hazard, which could worsen as the five-sixth area of France still free from rabies becomes infected.