Remove Serbia from the High-Risk Rabies List
Serbia is safe and deserves to be recognized as a low-risk country. Your signature can make a difference.
📊 Current Number of Signatures
Why the Request to Remove Serbia from the High-Risk Rabies List
Serbia is still listed internationally as a high-risk country for rabies, despite the fact that since 2018 there has not been a single recorded case of rabies in domestic or wild animals. This page aims to present relevant data, epidemiological trends, and implemented control measures as the basis for a formal request to revise Serbia’s status and remove it from the high-risk rabies list.
Epidemiological Status of Serbia
- Last case of rabies in wild animals: July 27, 2018 (fox, Krupanj, Mačva District)
- Last case in domestic animals: 2012 (cat, Braničevo District)
- Last case in humans: 1980 (Kosovo and Metohija)
- From 2018 to present: No recorded cases of rabies in Serbia
Control Measures Implemented
- Oral vaccination of foxes (ORV): Conducted continuously since 2010, with support from the EU and national institutions. More information available on the official European Commission page.
- Mandatory vaccination of dogs: Legally regulated and implemented across the entire territory of Serbia. Details available at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Serbia.
- Veterinary supervision and laboratory diagnostics: Aligned with WOAH standards and EU reference laboratories. WOAH standards are available on the official WOAH page.
- Availability of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): Vaccines and immunoglobulins are available in all major healthcare institutions. More about PEP on the official CDC page.
Comparative Analysis with Regional and EU Countries
| Country | Last Human Case | Last Domestic Animal Case | Last Wild Animal Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia | 1980 | 2012 | 2018 |
| Romania | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1991 | 2020 | 2013 |
| Bulgaria | None | 2010 | 2014 |
| Croatia | None | Eliminated | 2014 |
| Montenegro | None | 2012 | 2011 |
| Albania | None | None | 2014 |
| North Macedonia | 1976 | 2012 | 2012 |
Note: Romania recorded a human death in 2025 and a dog case in 2024, yet it is not classified as a high-risk country. Serbia, with no cases since 2018, is still listed as high-risk, highlighting inconsistent treatment.
Criteria for Reclassification
According to CDC, UKHSA, and WOAH, the criteria for risk assessment include:
- Presence of rabies in domestic animals
- Frequency of human cases
- Availability of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
- Effectiveness of surveillance and vaccination
Serbia meets all the criteria for reclassification as a low-risk rabies country.
Request
Based on the presented data, we request:
- That the procedure for reviewing Serbia’s status on the list of high-risk rabies countries be initiated
- That Serbia be reclassified as a low-risk country, in accordance with the current epidemiological situation and implemented measures
- That international databases (CDC, UKHSA, WOAH, ECDC) be updated in line with the submitted evidence
Petition Submitter
- Kinological Society Elit Bačka Palanka, registered with the Serbian Business Registers Agency (APR)
- Initiated by cynologist Goran Karanović
- In cooperation with the platform Ideal Dale and with the support of experts in veterinary medicine, epidemiology, and cynology
Support the initiative and sign the petition so we can jointly urge the relevant institutions to remove Serbia from the high-risk rabies list.
Important information for signatories
Please make sure to enter valid information when filling out the form. The accuracy of the data is crucial for the petition to carry full weight and credibility in communication with the relevant institutions.
Every signatory who provides a valid email address will automatically receive a confirmation of their signature by email. This ensures transparency and guarantees that your support has been recorded.
We emphasize that personal identifiers such as ID number or passport number, as well as email addresses, will never be publicly available. These details are used solely for internal verification and to prevent duplicate signatures. The public list of signatories displays only the name, citizenship, city, and comment, without sensitive information.
Your support is invaluable, and every valid signature contributes to our common goal – for Serbia to be removed from the list of high‑risk countries for rabies. Thank you for your trust and commitment!
View the list of signatories
Transparency is key – we publicly display the list of petition signatories and comments from everyone who has given their support.
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