The DyLAH unit has been designated by the French Ministry of health as National Reference Centre for Rabies (NRC-Rabies). The NRC-Rabies is involved in the control of human rabies in France. It is responsible for the laboratory diagnosis of every suspected human case and of any animal that could possibly have transmitted rabies to humans.
The NRC-Rabies coordonates the epidemiological surveillance of Human Rabies and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in France. The NRC annually analyses and publishes PEP exhaustive data and investigates epidemiological changes, to evaluate risks associated with rabies and propose new guidelines of management of post-exposure rabies risk.
NRC-Rabies missions :
- Microbiological expertise
Laboratory diagnosis of rabies suspect patients and animals potentially responsible for human exposure
- Epidemiological surveillance
Assessment of the rabies risk analysing epidemiological evolution of the disease in differents species (especially bats)
Contribution to detection and investigation of rabies cases
Collaboration with French organizations dealing with surveillance and control of rabies (Anses-Nancy, DGAL…)
Contribution to international rabies surveillance with a focus on European territory (directive 2003/99/CE about zoonoses)
- Rabies watch and alert
- Advice
Advice to Antirabies Medical Centers of the French network
Contribution to the vaccination policies assessment
