Each spring and autumn in the border regions between France and neighbouring Belgium and Germany, a massive bait-laying operation is organised to vaccinate foxes against rabies. Michel Aubert, biologist at the CNEVA (National Centre for Veterinary and Food Surveillance) is the man behind the operation. Thanks to the continued efforts, rabies are well under control in France, but this is not the case in large parts of Eastern Europe and part of Germany. This issue of public health provides a perfect battle ground for French and German laboratories fighting to obtain the European market for their respective vaccines.