Development of rabies in Lower Saxony in the years 1951-1975
Schlegel, H.L.
Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 83(7): 316-320
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-6593 PMID: 782825 Document Number: 97447
The first cases of rabies in Lower Saxony since 1923 were recorded at the end of 1950 near the eastern border. By 1957 it had spread over nearly the whole region and in 1975 only the north-western coastal areas remained free from rabies. The epidemic shows a 3 to 4 year cycle. Foxes account for 59.5% of all confirmed cases; in this species most cases are recorded in March and in October. A similar seasonal fluctuation is seen in dogs and in cats. In cattle most outbreaks are noticed in late autumn, while in roe deer the peak incidence is in March. The number of foxes shot annually during the last 15 years indicates that the fox population in Lower Saxony remained stable. No rabies, apart from sporadic cases, occurred in areas with less than 0.4 foxes/km2.