Surveillance by the Swiss Rabies Centre
According to the WOAH definition (WOAH, World Organisation for Animal Health), a country or region is considered rabies-free if strict surveillance and documentation of cases is ensured and no new cases are registered over a 24-month period. To maintain this status, Switzerland tests wild and domestic animals that are clinically suspected of having rabies. Every year, samples from various animal species are sent to the Swiss Rabies Centre and tested for virus under the national rabies surveillance programme.
How high is the risk in Switzerland?
Illegal imports
Imports of dogs, cats and ferrets from a rabies-risk country without adequate vaccination and without following the EU-PETS guidelines (European Pet Travel Scheme) pose the highest risk of reintroducing the virus. Such animals are therefore euthanased in case of doubt. Veterinary practice staff, animal keepers and veterinarians are at increased risk of coming into contact with rabies virus in this way and are therefore recommended to seek prophylactic vaccination.
Bat rabies
Bat rabies can occur even in countries that are free of urban and silvatic rabies. In Switzerland, six cases have been diagnosed in bats to date, the latest of which was in 2023. The risk of transmission to other wild or domestic animals is negligible in practice. A risk of transmission to humans does exist, especially if there is physical contact with a bat (e.g. a bite). In this case, immediate post-exposure prophylaxis is indicated. It is therefore especially important not to touch any sick wild animals or those behaving abnormally, and to inform the gamekeeper.Laut Definition der World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, World Organisation for Animal Health) gilt ein Land oder eine Region als tollwutfrei, wenn eine strenge Überwachung und Dokumentation der Fälle sichergestellt ist und über einen Zeitraum von 24 Monaten kein neuer Fall registriert wird. Um diesen Status aufrechtzuerhalten, werden in der Schweiz Haus- und Wildtiere bei klinischem Verdacht auf Tollwut untersucht. Jedes Jahr werden im Rahmen der Überwachung der Tollwutfreiheit Proben von diversen Tierarten an die Tollwutzentrale geschickt und auf das Virus untersucht.
