Elimination of rabies in the Czech Republic.

Rabies in foxes was widespread in the territory of the Czech Republic after the Second World War. The first three cases of fox rabies appeared in North and South Bohemia in 1947. In the following year, a considerable increase in rabies incidence was reported and of the 146 cases, 106 (74 %) of the 117 wildlife cases were in foxes. Rabies in foxes and other wild animals was verified in many border Czech and Moravian districts. Sylvatic rabies was established in the Czech Republic and persisted there enzootically for many years as a continuing problem. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) became the principal vector and reservoir. Averaging rabies cases over the long term, foxes account for about 90 % of all positive cases. The highest incidence of rabies was recorded in 1984, reaching 2,232 reported cases. Since then a continual decline in the number of cases has been visible, especially since 1992 when the positive effect of oral vaccination became evident.