The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has launched a spring oral vaccination of foxes against rabies. It is part of the Program for the prevention, supervision, control and eradication of the disease rabies, which was developed and has been implemented since 2009, the agency announced.
The process takes place in the 50-kilometer vaccination zone along the northern, western and southern land borders of the country and in the 20-kilometer zone along the Danube River, covering 23 districts, among which are Vidin, Vratsa and Montana.
Specially equipped aircraft will disperse about 1.5 mil. aerial baits, and in no-fly zones vaccines will be applied manually. The campaign is scheduled to start on April 23 and continue until the beginning of May, depending on weather conditions. Vaccines will not be dispersed over populated areas and water bodies. Baits will be distributed manually by specially trained persons around the Kozloduy NPP.
Vaccine baits are cube-shaped, and their specific smell attracts predators. In case of accidental contact with the baits, it is good to consult a doctor. Vaccines do not pose a health risk to other wild animals.
The control of the carried out vaccination includes: control of the reception of vaccine baits, serological surveillance, by detecting antibodies against the rabies virus in blood samples of vaccinated animals.
The agency recalls that rabies is a dangerous viral disease that affects all mammals and humans, with a fatal outcome. Wild predators are the main reservoir of the disease in our country, mainly foxes and, to a lesser extent, jackals. Bulgaria’s strategy for the prevention and eradication of the disease includes oral vaccination of foxes and annual vaccination of dogs.
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Tags: Vaccination foxes rabies begins
