Serbia on the Cusp of Rabies Eradication After Decade-Long EU-Backed Campaigns

A Decade of Progress Towards a Rabies-Free Serbia

Serbia is on the verge of achieving a major public health milestone: the eradication of rabies in its wild animal populations. This significant progress comes after more than a decade of sustained, EU-backed oral vaccination campaigns targeting primarily foxes and other wild carnivores across the country. The concerted effort has led to a dramatic reduction in rabies cases, bringing Serbia closer to obtaining official rabies-free status.

The Oral Vaccination Strategy and EU Support

The multi-annual project for oral rabies vaccination (ORV) of wild animals in Serbia was initiated in 2010 by the Veterinary Directorate, the national competent authority for animal health. This long-term program has been co-funded by the European Union, which has invested substantially in the initiative. Since 2010, the EU has allocated over €18 million to Serbia's rabies program, financing both spring and autumn vaccination campaigns. An additional €4.6 million has been allocated for recent campaigns, bringing the total EU investment to over €20.6 million.

The core of the strategy involves the aerial distribution of vaccine baits. These baits, designed as hard cookies with an enticing aroma and taste, contain a capsule with the vaccine. They are dispersed every 250 meters, primarily targeting red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), which are the most common carriers of sylvatic rabies, as well as other wild carnivores like jackals. This method ensures widespread immunization across the landscape.

Dramatic Decline in Rabies Cases

Before the oral vaccination campaigns began, Serbia faced a significant challenge, with an average of approximately 200 animal rabies cases reported annually between 2000 and 2010. The impact of the vaccination program was swift and profound:

• By 2011, the number of cases in wild animals dropped by 80 percent compared to 2009, with only 46 cases recorded.
• In 2012, this figure further decreased to just 13 cases.
• By 2014, only 3 cases were confirmed.
• A single fox rabies case was registered in 2017.

Crucially, Serbia has not reported a single case of rabies in wild animals since 2018, when the last positive case was confirmed in a fox in the Krupanj municipality. Canine-mediated human rabies was eliminated in Serbia during the 1980s, with the last human case reported in 1980.

Continued Vigilance and Future Outlook

On October 3, 2025, EU Ambassador to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath and Serbian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management Dragan Glamočić joined the latest aerial vaccination drive, emphasizing the success and the need for continued effort. Ambassador von Beckerath stated, 'Fortunately, Serbia has not reported a single case of rabies for years, thanks to the European Union's efforts.' Minister Glamočić praised the partnership, noting that Serbia is 'one step away from the final eradication of one of the most dangerous zoonosis.'

While the EU-funded program has been instrumental, officials stress the importance of Serbia's Veterinary Directorate continuing vaccination campaigns with its own resources to maintain these results and prevent reintroduction of the disease. The goal is for Serbia to soon obtain the official status of a rabies-free country, a testament to sustained international cooperation and national commitment to public and animal health.