United Kingdom
3
Great Britain (A Nation Where Rabies Is Virtually Extinct) Now Risks Rabies Due To The EU Laws
Great Britain has been rabies-free
since the beginning of the 20th century due to the UK's strict quarantine laws,
but the EU has forced the UK to relax the quarantine laws to be in line with the EU laws,
which has caused concern amongst British people.
Government urged to review UK rabies risk
More than 55,000 people around the world die every year from rabies.
Scientists are warning that the rabies threat to the UK
has increased following changes to dog quarantine rules.
Veterinary experts and animal welfare groups have told the BBC they are concerned that the rules
no longer provide adequate protection against the threat of the disease.
"There is enough evidence from people on the front line
that the risk has increased as a result of the changes," said veterinary surgeon Prof Sheila Crispin.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says the risk
of a dog with rabies coming into the UK is very low.
It estimated the new rules mean there would be one case of rabies in a pet in the UK once every 211 years,
with the possibility of a person dying from rabies obtained from a pet once in every 21,000 years.
Before January 2012, the Pet Travel Scheme required animals to be microchipped,
vaccinated against rabies and then blood tested.
After a further six months they would be allowed entry to the UK.
But changes to the scheme, aimed at bringing the UK into line with the rest of Europe,
mean animals from the EU and approved non-EU countries such as the US and Australia
no longer need a blood test and now have to wait only 21 days following vaccination.
Vital check
Under the new rules, it means animals coming from France are treated the same as dogs
coming from parts of Eastern Europe where rabies is endemic.
Prof Sheila Crispin, former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons,
said the decision to do away with the need for a blood test had also removed a vital check in the system.
"For something as important as rabies you really want to know that the vaccine has worked.
To wait 21 days and import the animal could be construed as a risk - add to that that the incubation period
for rabies can go beyond 21 days and then potentially you have a problem," she says.
During 2011, according to Defra figures, 85,774 dogs entered the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme.
In 2012, that rose to 139,216 dogs - an increase of 62%.
A risk assessment was carried out by Defra before the changes to the Pet Travel Scheme were introduced last year.
Prof Crispin says the risk assessment was compiled on the basis that there would be 100% compliance
with the new regulations - but that is not realistic, she says.
"The trouble is many people have regarded the relaxation as a wonderful opportunity to be dishonest
and there's been a huge increase - something like 400% in the first year - of illegal imports,
and they are the ones we know about," she says.
It is thought the increase is due to illegal smugglers being prepared to run the risk of getting caught,
knowing that although they will be liable to pay kennel costs
they will get the dogs back after three weeks in quarantine rather than six months.
They mostly smuggle puppies into the country because they are easier to sell than mature dogs.
Some of the dogs being smuggled into Britain are coming from Eastern Europe, where rabies is found.
Animal charities have told the BBC that the quarantine changes, along with the problem of illegal dogs,
have left them concerned about the potential risk facing their employees.
Precautionary measure
"The quarantine regulations we have don't reflect the incubation period of rabies.
It's not a case of scaremongering, but I think repeating the risk assessment would be a way of doing that,"
said Paula Boyden, veterinary director at the Dogs Trust.
The Dogs Trust charity is now considering offering rabies vaccinations to front-line staff as a precautionary measure.
"At the moment we are monitoring the situation quite carefully. We're certainly considering it," said Paula Boyden.
The Dogs Trust is not alone. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is also in talks
over whether to begin offering rabies vaccinations to some of its workers.
"We're giving it serious consideration at the moment.
It's a three-week wait after the animal has had the vaccination but the incubation period for rabies
is anything from two to 12 weeks or even longer, " said Shaun Opperman, veterinary director at the home.
In a statement, Defra said: "The risk of a dog with rabies coming into the UK is very low
and the risk of rabies being passed from a pet to a person is lower still."
"We continue to monitor the situation and will undertake a further, formal risk assessment if we feel that it is warranted."
According to Defra, the last case of rabies in dogs in the UK outside of quarantine was in a dog imported from Pakistan in 1970.
Rabies Facts
- The last case of rabies in dogs in the UK (outside of quarantine) was in a dog imported from Pakistan in 1970.
- Rabies occurs in more than 150 countries and territories
- More than 55 000 people die of it every year.
- 40% of those bitten are children aged under 15
- Dogs are the source of 99% of human rabies deaths.
- Wound cleaning and immunisation within a few hours after contact with a suspect rabid animal
can prevent the onset of rabies and death.- Each year, more than 15m people worldwide are treated after exposure -
this is estimated to prevent 327,000 rabies deaths annually
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24569593EU puts EVERYONE in Britain at risk of RABIES
BRITAIN faces a growing risk from rabies after the Government refused to challenge
an EU directive relaxing strict UK quarantine laws.
Animals are being smuggled into Britain, say vets, increasing the threat of rabies
Source: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/434...risk-of-RABIES
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by English Rose
Bookmarks