WHAT IS RABIES?
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects all mammals, including humans. It attacks the central nervous system, and once clinical symptoms appear, it is always fatal.
RE-EMERGENCE IN RECENT YEARS
In recent years, rabies has re- emerged in parts of Eastern Europe, spreading rapidly and reminding us that freedom from rabies is not permanent.
WHO CAN GET INFECTED?
All mammals – including humans – can get rabies.
In Europe, wild animals like foxes are the main reservoirs of the virus.
They can spread rabies to domestic animals, especially dogs and cats, but also to livestock.
Any infected animal, wild or domestic, can transmit the virus to people.
WHAT ARE THE CLINICAL SIGNS OF THE DISEASE?
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR ANIMALS?
• An animal that is tireless, hyperactive, and overly sensitive to light, sound and water.
• Animals with unusual behavior, salivation, difficulty in swallowing, restlessness and disorientation.
• Disctinct changes in barking or howling.
• Dead animal, or animal killed on the read.
• A wild animal seen wandering during the day and showing an unusual lack of fear or increased aggression to other animals or humans.
• Unusual aggression in domestic animals.
• Lack of coordination, paralysis, coma, or death.
The United Kingdom, with support from the European Union, has been implementing oral rabies vaccination since 2014.
This is the only proven method to eliminate rabies in wild reservoir animals—red foxes.
Thanks to this approach, most of European countries have successfully eradicated rabies, and it has also been highly effective in controlling the disease in our country.
The most important preventive action in domestic animals is the compulsory vaccination of dogs.
All dogs must be regularly vaccinated against rabies.
Particular attention should be given to dogs that are closely connected to the natural environment, such as shepherd dogs, hunting dogs and dogs living in rural areas. Free-roaming dogs also play an important role in the rabies transmission cycle.