Implementation and monitoring of oral rabies vaccination of foxes in Kosovo between 2010 and 2013—An international and intersectorial effort

Yakobson, B., Goga, I., Freuling, C. M., Fooks, A. R., Gjinovci, V., Hulaj, B., Horton, D., Johnson, N., Muhaxhiri, J., Recica, I., David, D., O’Flaherty, R., Taylor, N., Wilsmore, T. and Müller, T. (2014) Implementation and monitoring of oral rabies vaccination of foxes in Kosovo between 2010 and 2013—An international and intersectorial effort. International Journal of Medical Microbiology, 304 (7). pp. 902-910. ISSN 1438-4221 doi: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.07.009

Abstract/Summary

The European Union has used instrument for pre-accession (IPA) funds to provide technical assistance and supplies for the eradication, monitoring and control of rabies in several pre-accession countries. As a result, since 2010, multi-annual oral rabies vaccination (ORV) programmes for eliminating fox rabies have been launched in six Western Balkan countries. Here the implementation of the ORV programme in Kosovo, the smallest of the West Balkan countries, is described. Associated challenges under difficult political conditions, potential biases, and the results of rabies surveillance and monitoring of ORV campaigns (bait uptake and immunisation rates) since 2010 are reported.