Epizootic situation and risk of rabies exposure in Polish population in 2000, with special attention to Lublin province.

In Poland in 2000 a total of 2,221 cases of animal rabies were reported, including 1,874 (84.4%) of wild animals. The evaluation of epizootic situation in 2000 has shown a few cases of animal rabies in western provinces of Poland, so in regions where a programme aimed at oral vaccination of foxes was introduced. Most cases of animal rabies were identified in the northeastern region, as well as in eastern and central Poland. In October 2000 in Warminsko-Mazurskie province (northeastern region of Poland) rabies was responsible for the death of 59-year-old woman, bitten by a rabid cat, and refused post-exposure specific antirabies prophylaxis. Among domestic animals, the highest incidence of rabies occurred in cattle--167 cases (7.5%), cats--113 (5.1%) and dogs--61 (2.7%). In the group of wild animals, red foxes accounted for 1,587 (71.5%) cases, raccoon dogs for 210 (9.5%) and martens for 36 (1.6%). People have been vaccinated against rabies in all provinces of Poland. The number of people vaccinated against rabies in regions adjoining the western border was much smaller compared to other provinces of Poland. The highest rates of using post-exposure prophylaxis occurred in northeastern regions of Poland (Warminsko-Mazurskie province) and eastern and central parts of Poland. On the basis of analysis of cases consulted in the dispensary of rabies prophylaxis in the Department of Infectious Diseases in Lublin, it can be concluded that the number of people with exposure to rabid animals is rather small. Most vaccinations are carried out when animals suspected of being rabid bite patients. These are primarily domestic animals--dogs and cats.