[Current status of animal rabies in France].

The main host reservoir and vector of rabies in Western Europe is the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). A vaccination strategy for this species has been developed and tested in Switzerland since 1978. Results indicate that the vaccine which is administered in spring and autumn for at least two consecutive years is more effective than destruction by shooting or gassing the animals. The same approach using bait containing increasingly effective and safe vaccines has been in use in France since 1986. By creating an immunological barrier from the English channel to the Swiss border, it has been possible to stop the southern progression of the disease. In the following years the vaccination program was extended to all contaminated areas in France (141,700 km2). From 1989 to 1996 rabies decreased in incidence by 99.7% and disappeared from 95% of the previously contaminated area. Although no case of rabies involving a non-flying mammal has been reported since October 1996, rabies cannot be considered as eradicated as long as places of active disease subsist in neighboring areas of Belgium and the Sarreland. Bat rabies in Europe is caused by two viral genotypes that have never been isolated in any species other than bats and man. A total of four cases of bat rabies have been diagnosed in France since 1989. All four cases occurred in the Serotine community including one in 1997. All cases of canine rabies reported in the last 20 years have been observed in imported animals. The last was in 1995 and could have been prevented by stricter border control.