May 5, 2018
The Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection (link) has begun its regular oral vaccination of foxes against rabies.
Warning video:
Translation:
Vaccination of foxes against rabies is the only effective method of rabies control in wild animals. When a fox bites into a piece of bait, it becomes protected against the disease. However, beware: any direct contact of a person with the bait is treated as a bite of a rabid animal, therefore such bait should not be touched. Children should be told about this as well.
All images are screenshots from the Youtube video embedded below
The bait consists of an outer wrap (bait) made of fish flour, coconut butter, wax and tetracycline (a biomarker, which allows the identification of vaccinated animals) and a vaccine capsule which is hiding inside the bait itself.
Bait will be delivered by airplane from a height of 300 m into a 50 km belt from the Croatian border.
Vaccination area: 50 km belt from the border with Croatia (areas under the red dotted line)
Important:
- Do not touch the bait, and tell children to avoid doing so as well.
- If you find some bait in your yard or garden, pick it up with a plastic bag and throw it into any nearby bushes, or take it to the closest veterinary station.
- If the bait's content gets into contact with a mucous membrane or fresh wound, wash this area thoroughly with soap then visit your doctor or anti-rabies clinic. According the WHO recommendations, every contact with the bait's content is seen as a rabid animal bite.
- If you get bitten or scratched by a feral or wild animal, visit your doctor or closest anti-rabies clinic.
- Free movement of dogs in public places is prohibited.
- Avoid contact with stray and wild animals.
Oral vaccination of foxes takes place twice a year, in spring and fall. The spring procedure starts in May and is expected to conclude at the end of June this year.
