title: Rabies eradication in Belgium by fox vaccination using vaccinia-rabies recombinant virus.
abstract: Oral immunization of foxes against rabies, by distributing vaccine-baits in the field, has been in progress since 1993 in the whole of the infected area of Belgium (10,000 km2). A vaccinia-rabies recombinant virus (VR-G) was used as vaccine because of its efficacy, safety and heat-stability. The successive campaigns of fox vaccination have induced a drastic decrease in rabies incidence and in 1993 there were no cases of rabies detected in the fox population. A marked decrease of human post-exposure treatments and the elimination of the disease in domestic animals have been the consequence of fox rabies control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brochier
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Pastoret
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D005589:Foxes / Q000821:virology*; D011818:Rabies / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic