The authorities aim to vaccinate foxes against rabies so as to diminish the infection rate until Moldova obtains the status of country free from rabies by 2023. Over 1 million shots will be purchased for the purpose. The foxes will be immunized with the help of baits, IPN reports.

The informative note to the draft decision on the approval of the program for the supervision, control and eradication of rabies in foxes (for 2019-2023) says the Republic of Moldova is one of the countries with the highest number of cases of rabies in Europe – in animals and in people – and is outstripped by Ukraine only.

In 2017-2018, there were recorded 128 cases of rabies, 20% being in foxes. In 2002, a child from Drochia died from rabies, while in 2016, a man from Căușeni died for the same reason.

The population of foxes in the Republic of Moldova, according to the data of the Zoology Institute, is of about 36,000. Their density is of 10-12 animals per 1,000 hectares, which is ten times higher than the optimal number for this species.

Among the objectives of the program are to regulate the number of fixes and to strengthen the national reference lab for rabies.