The rabies situation in Europe for the 3rd quarter 2007 is
presented in tables and a map in this issue. Although the
overall number of rabies cases in terrestrial animals
reported increased by 616 to 1894 compared to the previous
quarter, in relation to the 3rd quarter the number has not
changed significantly. In this issue we present information
on the first confirmed EBLV-2 case in Germany’s southwest
close to Switzerland. The Daubenton’s bat infected with
EBLV-2 showed aggressive behaviour and bit the bat handler
several times. Fortunately, the person had just received the
full pre-exposure vaccination, highlighting the need for
preventive measures also in bat rabies. In this context, the
second miscellaneous article announces the new WHO position
paper on rabies vaccines published in the Weekly
Epidemiological Record, No. 49/50, 2007, 82, 425–436. WHO
position papers, which are concerned primarily with the use
of vaccines in large-scale immunization programmes,
summarize essential background information on the respective
diseases and vaccines, and conclude with the current WHO
position concerning their use in the global context. The
inaugural 1st World Rabies Day (WRD) on September 8th was a
great success. From the beginning the WHO RBE supported this
day. Here we present a summary of the WRD provided by Peter
Costa. The WRD 2008 will be moved to September 28th to
recognize the anniversary of Louis Pasteur’s death and to
celebrate his contribution to preventing human rabies
through the successful development of the first efficacious
rabies vaccine.
Conrad Freuling
Thomas Müller
Contents of
this Bulletin