The rabies data for the 3rd quarter of 2012 is presented in tables and a map.

The first article is a case report on an imported human rabies case in Switzerland. The U.S. citizen died after being hospitalized and sequence analysis of the rabies virus revealed an association to insectivorous bats in the Americas.

A World Health Organization (WHO) International Expert Consultation on rabies was held at WHO’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on 18–20 September 2012. The second article by Dr. Meslin gives an overview of the topics discussed. Countries endemic for canine rabies were urged to initiate and strengthen their rabies prevention and control activities, and to increase the level of awareness about the disease, particularly among children.

Conrad Freuling
Thomas Müller