Switzerland eradicated rabies by air dropping chicken heads! – The Times of India

In the late 20th century, Switzerland faced a formidable public health challenge: rabies. This deadly virus, primarily transmitted through the bites of infected animals, poses a significant threat to both wildlife and humans. The Swiss authorities, determined to combat the disease, devised an innovative and unconventional strategy: air-dropping vaccine-laced chicken heads across the countrys forests and countryside. The operation was set against the backdrop of a Europe grappling with rabies outbreaks, particularly in wild fox populations. Switzerlands approach was groundbreaking. In the 1960s and 1970s, the countrys Federal Veterinary Office ordered that chicken heads stuffed with vaccine be placed on the ground in high-risk areas. This method was not only inventive but also effective, marking the beginning of a campaign that would eventually lead to the eradication of rabies in Switzerland. The bait, designed to attract foxes, was laced with a vaccine that, once ingested, would immunize the animal against rabies. The strategy relied on the natural behavior of foxes to scavenge for food, thus ensuring the vaccines distribution among the target population. The use of aerial distribution methods allowed for a wide coverage area, reaching even the most remote and inaccessible regions where foxes roamed. This method of vaccination was a departure from traditional approaches, which often involved trapping and inoculating individual animalsa labor-intensive and less efficient process. By contrast, the Swiss method allowed for mass vaccination of wildlife without the need for direct human-animal contact, significantly reducing the risk of transmission to veterinarians and wildlife officers.

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Switzerland eradicated rabies by air dropping chicken heads! - The Times of India