title: Rabies outbreak in Greece during 2012-2014: use of Geographical Information System for analysis, risk assessment and control.
abstract: The objectives of this work were (i) geographical analysis of the 2012-2014 outbreak of rabies in Greece using GIS and (ii) comparative analysis of animal cases with data of potential human exposure to rabies together with environmental data, in order to provide information for risk assessment, effective monitoring and control. Most animal cases (40/48) involved red foxes, while domestic animals were also diagnosed with rabies. Overall, 80% of the cases were diagnosed in central northern Greece; 75% of the cases were diagnosed in low altitudes (<343·5 m), within a distance of 1 km from human settlements. Median distance from livestock farms was 201·25 m. Most people potentially exposed to rabies (889/1060) presented with dog bite injuries. Maximum entropy analysis revealed that distance from farms contributed the highest percentage in defining environmental niche profiles for rabid foxes. Oral vaccination programmes were implemented in 24 administrative units of the country during 2013 and 2014, covering a total surface area of ~60 000 km2. Rabies re-occurrence in Greece emphasizes the need for ongoing surveillance in cross-border areas and in areas with intense human activity.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Thessaly,Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannakopoulos
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Thessaly,Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valiakos
authors.affiliation: Research Division,Hunting Federation of Macedonia and Thrace,Thessaloniki,Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papaspyropoulos
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dougas
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoonoses,Animal Health Directorate,Ministry of Rural Development and Food,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Korou
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Diagnostics,FMD, Virological, Ricketsial and Exotic diseases,Athens Veterinary Centre,Ministry of Rural Development and Food,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Tasioudi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Thessaly,Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fthenakis
authors.affiliation: Disease Systems,Scotland's Rural College,Edinburgh,UK.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hutchings
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Technical Studies,Structures and Topography,Ministry of Rural Development and Food,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaimaras
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Thessaly,Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Tsokana
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Diagnostics,FMD, Virological, Ricketsial and Exotic diseases,Athens Veterinary Centre,Ministry of Rural Development and Food,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iliadou
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production,Technological Education Institute of Thessaly,Larissa,Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spyrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoonoses,Animal Health Directorate,Ministry of Rural Development and Food,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzani
authors.affiliation: Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management,Technological Institute of Thessaly,Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Birtsas
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoonoses,Animal Health Directorate,Ministry of Rural Development and Food,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kostoglou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Thessaly,Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sokos
authors.affiliation: Animal Welfare Identification and Veterinary Drugs and Residues Department,Animal Health Directorate,Ministry of Rural Development and Food,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doudounakis
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine & Science,University of Nottingham,Nottingham,UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yon
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine & Science,University of Nottingham,Nottingham,UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hannant
authors.affiliation: University of Lyon,VetAgro Sup,France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artois
authors.affiliation: Fourth Academic Department of Internal Medicine,University of Athens Medical School,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsiodras
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,Athens,Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hadjichristodoulou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Thessaly,Karditsa,Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Billinis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D004285:Dogs; D005589:Foxes; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines
keywords: Fox; Geographical Information System; Greece; rabies