Four cases of rabies were recorded in Moldova last week, said the Sanitary-Veterinary Supervision Division. Rabies is an acute viral infectious disease of mammals, caused by a neutrophil virus found in the saliva of infected animals, IPN reports.

Head of the Sanitary-Veterinary Supervision Division Vitalie Caraus has told IPN that four cases of rabies were identified last week: in a fox in Ungheni district; in a cat in Anenii Noi district; in a dog in Causeni district, and in a cow in Sangerei district. Our inspectors took the necessary measures to liquidate the hotbeds of disease and sterilize the infected areas,” he stated.

Rabies is one of the most dangerous viruses passed from animal to humans. In most of the cases, it is contracted from wild mammals. The virus is transmitted by bite and attacks the central nervous system. The infected animals salivate abundantly and are aggressive. Rabies is most often spread by foxes. “A number of 64 cases of rabies have been recorded so far this year, mainly in foxes, does, dogs, cows, rats and cats,” said Vitalie Caraus.

He noted that the wild fauna in Moldova is vaccinated two times a year – in spring and in autumn. According to cartographic data, there are about 4-5 foxes on an area of 100 km2. They are immunized by briquetted food treated with vaccine that is put near their holes.