The autumn campaign on Oral Vaccination of Foxes in Bosnia and Herzegovina began with a Press conference and a Seminar on Rabies Control and Eradication on Thursday, 14 November 2013.
Martin Schieder, Head of Operations Section for Economic Reform, Natural Resources and Infrastructure at the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Dr. Ljubo Kalaba, Director of the Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, spoke at the Press conference held at Ciljuge Airport near Tuzla.
The campaign is organised under the EU funded programme of Control and Eradication of Animal Diseases in BiH. This is the third year of the programme in BiH and the EU funds similar programmes in the other countries of the Western Balkans.
“The EU has so far invested 4.8 million EUR in eradication measures for rabies in BiH with aim to improve health of the animals and help in fighting against serious health risks of this disease for the citizens. Another 5 million EUR from IPA 2010 and 2012 are planned for implementation of animal disease control and eradication projects that target rabies and other diseases, such as brucellosis.“ said Martin Schieder.
Rabies is an animal disease but can be seriously dangerous for humans. The mortality is almost a100% once an animal or a human shows clinical signs of rabies. Therefore the prevention which includes vaccination of foxes is the most important part of the fight against this serious disease.
“Oral vaccination, which is being implemented in BiH for the third year, has already produced positive results in terms of reduction of rabies cases in BiH. In 2010 there were 47 reported cases of rabies, while in the first nine months of 201, after the implementation of the fourth vaccination campaign, only 4 case of rabies were reported,” said dr. Kalaba.
Dr. Kalaba also urged the pet owners to vaccinate their pets against rabies, because the oral vaccines are only for wild animals. He also called the citizens to restrain from touching the vaccines should they see them, both because of their own safety and the campaign’s success.
After the press conference, the preparation of the oral vaccine distribution, including loading of vaccines in airplanes and the control tower take off clearing), as well as the take-off of airplanes which begun distribution of the prav vaccines in all regions in BiH.
A seminar on Rabies Control and Eradication followed at the Hotel ”Tuzla” in Tuzla.
The programme of oral vaccination is being implemented in partnership with the BiH Veterinary Office. The supply and distribution of vaccines is implemented by the company BIOVETA a/s. Coordination and public awareness campaign activities are implemented by HTSPE Limited in cooperation with VIA MEDIA d.o.o.
For more information on the Campaign of Oral Vaccination of Foxes against Rabies, please visit the web site of the Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, www.vet.gov.ba. For additional questions, citizens can send email to info_bjesnilo@vet.gov.ba.
