Rabies in NE Italy (updated April 2010)

Since October 2008, over 200 (1) cases of animal rabies have been confirmed in north-eastern Italy (marked in red on the map). These incidents have mainly been in foxes but a number of other animals have been infected including dogs, cats, donkeys, deer and badgers.  All incidents have been in north-eastern Italy, starting in the vicinity of Udine in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, but spreading in recent months through the neighbouring regions of Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige.

In April 2010, Italy reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that rabies is now considered endemic in the defined affected zones of north-eastern Italy: Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and Belluno province in Veneto region.

Italy had been rabies free since 1995 although rabies had been found in foxes in this area in 1992.  In previous cases foxes appeared to have crossed the border from Slovenia and Austria, however the risk of rabies in the northern and eastern border regions of Italy has long been recognised. Local control measures including vaccination and restriction of movement of dogs, enhanced surveillance of wildlife, and oral vaccination of wild foxes have been enforced.

This area is alpine and forested and not a major tourist destination.  However, UK travellers are being advised the following:

• Those who are travelling to the northern and eastern border regions of Italy should avoid contact with wild and domestic animals.  However, if they are licked, scratched or bitten by a wild or domestic animal they should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and seek urgent medical advice either in Italy, or on their return from their GP or NHS Direct.

Expert advice for health professionals is available from the Virus Reference Dept (0208 200 4400) or Duty Doctor at Centre for Infections (0208 200 6868).

(1). OIE follow-up report 41, 23/03/2010. http://www.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=9074

Further information

All OIE reports

De Benedictis P, Mutinelli F, Veggiato C, Capua I, Squecco G, Coassin R, Ferri G. Rabies in a vaccinated dog in Italy. Veterinary Record, Aug 2009; 165: 216 (letter).

Eurosurveillance paper - Emergence of fox rabies in northeastern Italy  November 2008, Vol 13, No 45.

Last reviewed: 29 December 2010