[Rabies in Poland in 2006].

In Poland 81 cases of animal rabies were reported in 2006. Since 1993, when mass oral vaccination of wild animals against rabies was introduced in our country, a positive impact of fox immunisation has been visible on the epizootic situation of rabies in Poland. In 2006 we observed almost forty-fold decrease in number of animal rabies cases in comparison with the year 2001. Sources of wild and domestic animal rabies are still present, mainly in the east part of the country (80% of rabies cases). In Poland out of 7 225 people vaccinated against rabies, 99 (1.3%) were bitten by or had contact with a rabid animal. The main reason for vaccination against rabies was exposure to an animal with not excluded rabies (6 502 cases, 90%) or animals healthy at the moment of the exposition (624 cases, 8.6%).