The Epidemiological Situation of Enzootic Rabies in the Republic of Lithuania over the Past Ten Years

摘要

Rabies is widespread across the Republic of Lithuania. While urban rabies has been eradicated, it remains enzootic in wildlife. Infected wild animals are the main reservoir of the disease and they cause sporadic cases of rabies in domestic animals. Since 1960, 11 people have died of rabies in Lithuania. The objective of this study was to analyse the development of the epidemiological situation of enzootic rabies, looking at associations between animals submitted for examination and reported cases, the incidence and trends of infection in certain species of domestic and wild animals, geographical distribution, monthly and seasonal variations, and the impact of rabies control activities on rabies cases in Lithuania over a ten-year period, between 1994 and 2003.