3rd meeting of the Standing Groups of Experts on Rabies for Europe

The meeting objective was to report the progress made on rabies eradication by countries that systematically carry out Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) for wild animals while ensuring that there is efficient coordination and cooperation between Veterinary Authorities of Member Countries on ORV, surveillance, and disease notification along borders.

Member Countries provided detailed reports on their epidemiological situation, specific activities, and plans for the next two years in terms of oral vaccination against rabies and surveillance. Two experts, Drs Cliquet and Kirandjinski, were invited to present their work in the framework of the West Balkans project on animal health. They also concluded that coordination between veterinary services, as well as sufficient passive surveillance, were essential to rabies eradication. Sustainable funding and procurement questions were discussed since they have a major impact on the positions of several countries.

Following productive and transparent discussions on the way forward, the consequent recommendations imply that vaccination is still required in view of recent rabies cases and insufficient passive surveillance in some areas, and that “passive” (general) surveillance is of critical importance for rabies elimination. After listening to the input by participants, the President of the Regional GF-TADs underlined the importance of administrative aspects of the rabies eradication programme, including procurements, regular surveillance, and the role of hunters in passive surveillance. It was agreed to hold the next meeting in the spring of 2022, and that it is important to invite all countries where rabies is present as an endemic or emerging disease.

* References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)