♦ 23 November 2015 ♦ The EURL for rabies team thanks all of you for the support and the kind messages received after the sad events in Paris. This time the event took place in the French capital, but we have to keep in mind that things are moving fast all over the world and innocents are killed nearly daily everywhere for the same motivations. Although it seems difficult to carry on under this now permanent kind of treat, life keeps going on and we will try to give you the same level of satisfaction in our work as before. Just keep in mind that if you were to come to France these coming months, controls are reinforced and it may take longer going through the borders.  

♦ 03 December 2015 ♦   This year EC regulation changed as regards administrative organisation. From now on, EURLs have to follow Regulations (EC) N°882/2004 (Article 32 (7)) and (EU) 652/2014, and are requested to submit a work programme and an estimated budget for two years, and no more under an annual basis as it was done the previous years. The work programme established in 2015 by the EURL for rabies follows these new rules and plans activities for years 2016 and 2017. It has been validated by the European Commission on 19 November 2015. The work programme is available online for private members only.  

♦ 03 December 2015 ♦ The workshop, initially forecasted for 20-21 April, has been postponed to mid-June. It is likely that it will be held over one single day. More information on the date will be given at the shortest notice.  

♦ 02 November 2015 ♦ Estonian Veterinary and Food Laboratory (VFL) is the national reference laboratory for rabies. The Central Veterinary and Food Laboratory is situated in Tartu and there are three smaller branch laboratories in Tallinn, Rakvere and Saaremaa. Rabies studies are performed only in Central VFL in virology-serology department. The head of department is Katrin Mähar and three chief specialists involved with rabies investigation are Christel Männistu, Marika Karu and Viivika Virga. OTC determination studies are performed in bacteriology-patology department and contact person is Katrin Peik. Methods •    Fluorescence antibody test (FAT) •    Tissue culture infective test (RTCIT) •    Molecular techniques (RT-PCR) •    OTC determination •    ELISA All laboratory methods are accredited according to ISO/I EC 17025:2005.   Responsibility of NRL Rabies surveillance:        Examine about 200 samples per year for virus detection. Efficiency of oral vaccination programm.       Examine  about 2000 samples per year for virus detection       Examine  about 500 samples per year for antibody detection       Examine  about 400 samples per year for OTC detection Estonian has officially  been rabies free since 2013, but we carry out vaccination of wildlife along the east border in buffer zone with Russia. Last confirmed case rabies from are raccon dog was 2011 find close to Russian border. Contact Katrin Mähar: katrin.mahar@vetlab.ee Website: www.vetlab.ee

♦ 16 October 2015 ♦ The EURL for rabies has been informed by a member of the NRL network (ISCIII, Spain) that the new batch of Fujirebio 524255 may provide a negative diagnosis result on the EBLV-1 strains detection. According to a study performed by a member of the NRL network using this material (APHA, UK), they conclude the new Fujirebio batch should not be used in FAT or RTCIT for diagnostic work due to its inability to detect EBLV-1 and EBLV-2 at a sufficiently high dilution to avoid non-specific fluorescence. Please take into account the manufacturer recommendations of systematically evaluate new batches against relevant virus strains.  

♦ 07 October 2015 ♦ The RITA conference is an annual international event taking place in America where lots of research scientists, academics, students, public health officials, veterinary professionals, rabies program directors and others have the opportunity to meet, discuss and present the latest research in the fight against rabies worldwide. For the 2015 conference, the EURL for rabies had the opportunity to give a talk entitled “Control and Elimination of Rabies in the Baltic States” during the “Oral rabies vaccine and rabies control” session (OP54). The presentation can be seen on the EURL for rabies website.  

♦ 20 September 2015 ♦ The fact sheet No.99 of the WHO Media Centre has been recently updated. The fact sheet covers topics such as key facts, prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, transmission, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and summarises the WHO actions against the disease. (… Read more).    

♦ 28 September 2015 ♦ The 2015’s edition of the World Rabies Day was held as usual on 28 September and thereabouts. This event is celebrated all around the world, and not only in endemic areas. In Europe and bordering countries, many events were recorded on the GARC website: You could note amongst other things presentation & fundraising in the United Kingdom, conferences, exhibitions and workshop for school children in France, local mini symposium in Croatia, conference in Serbia, meeting with Hunting Federation in Albania, mass vaccination campaign and workshops to raise awareness at Elementary and Secondary Schools in Tunisia, awareness campaign for medical and paramedical staff in Algeria and vaccination campaign, field activities, awareness campaigns in schools and also media campaigns through the press and TV shows in Morocco... Of course, many other events were held in the other parts of the world as shown on the GARC website map.  

♦ 02 September 2015 ♦ [Relayed from the OIE website] - The OIE is making publicly available on its website the 2014 edition of its Annual Report, providing an opportunity to look back over the events that marked the past year and to relive some aspects through videos, infographics, questions/answers and other online media. The document is available in English, French and Spanish: you are welcome to disseminate it within your own network. (…Read more)  

♦ 22 September 2015 ♦ A total of 68 laboratories undertook the rabies serology inter laboratory test this year. A hard copy of the report on the inter laboratory test for rabies serology performed this spring (session April 2015) is currently being sent to each participant laboratory. A satisfaction questionnaire will follow in the coming weeks. For any enquiry related to this proficiency trial, please contact the EURL for rabies serology team.