Moldova and Croatia launch rabies vaccination campaigns for wild foxes

Moldova and Croatia have launched autumn campaigns to vaccinate wild foxes against rabies to prevent the spread of the zoonotic disease to domestic animals and humans.

In Moldova, the National Agency for Food Safety (ANSA) is conducting its second vaccination campaign from October 20 to November 2, 2026. This effort involves the manual distribution of vaccine baits by veterinarians in cooperation with forestry and hunting organizations. The program, co-financed by the European Union, aims to achieve rabies-free status for the country. In 2026, Moldova recorded 96 rabies outbreaks, 18 of which occurred in wildlife. Authorities advise citizens to avoid direct contact with vaccine baits and recommend limiting the free movement of pets in vaccinated areas for two weeks to prevent accidental consumption.

In Croatia, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is initiating an oral vaccination campaign starting October 21, 2026. Over 1.3 million vaccine baits will be distributed via aircraft, beginning from the Vinkovci-Sopot airport and moving from northern to southern Croatia. The program, which has been active since 2011 and is co-financed by the European Commission through 2027, uses GPS-equipped devices to deploy baits. The Ministry warns the public not to touch or move found baits unless in specific circumstances to ensure the effectiveness of the immunization process.