From past experience we know that we cannot rely on our European neighbours.

In 2005 Germany was accused of negligence & incompetence by France for failing to tackle a massive outbreak of rabies that began in the state of Hessen.  The Germans wrongly assumed that the River Rhine would form a natural barrier to stop foxes migrating east. 

The French were furious, having spent millions of Euros on an eradication program.  Other German neighbours were horrified that, having invested heavily in vaccination programs, the rabid animals were free to cross their borders and re-infect/re-introduce this lethal disease. 

Having admitted, just two months after the first reported case, that they had lost control of the situation Germany was told, in no uncertain terms, by the Head of the French rabies laboratory at the Agence Francaise de Securite Santaire des Ailments, that this was just one of a series of mistakes.

Germany, unlike its neighbours, had been using a rabies vaccine that had not been approved by the World Health Organisation.  Not only was the vaccine so temperature sensitive that it easily became ineffective, but it was also known to cause ‘vaccine rabies’ cases, in which the animals actually got the virus from the vaccine.

Vaccine baits were dropped from aircraft and hunters were paid to distribute vaccine blocks by hand.  Neither of these methods proved as effective as the approach taken by the French who dropped the blocks by helicopter allowing the bait to be spread more precisely & also into suburban areas, which is essential.

Despite French concerns the Germans persisted with this approach.  Over nine million baits were dropped & it was believed that Western Europe was no longer at risk.

Despite this belief, there have regularly been confirmed cases in France & surrounding countries.  

Reproduced by kind permission of Dog World 

Very interesting telephone call

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I contacted DEFRA to ask their advice on how they would deal with a case of rabies.  When I eventually got through, it was obvious there was some consternation at the other end & I was asked to repeat my question.  I spoke slowly, explaining the reason for my request & asked “What will happen if a dog or cat gets rabies?  Will all other dogs & cats in the area have to be culled to stop it spreading?”  The agent on the line asked if I meant “Would we not be allowed to leave the area?”  I explained that the word ‘cull’ meant ‘to kill’, and repeated my question so that it was perfectly clear.  He asked if I would wait while he sought advice from his manager.

Eventually he came back and told me I should go to my vet for advice.  I explained that surely, with DEFRA being responsible for introducing & monitoring the new regulations, they should have plans in place for this eventuality &, as the new law had been in place for some days now, surely somebody must know the procedure?  He asked me to hold again whilst he sought further advice.

When he returned he reiterated that his manager had said to seek advice from my vet as they were not aware of any plans in place. 

So the question begs to be asked:  “What will happen when – and I stress the word WHEN and not IF – we have a case of rabies in the UK?  I guess we shall just have to wait & see……… 

Reproduced by kind permission of Dog World