On the eve of the summer period, the Ministry of Agriculture recalls the rules to follow for traveling abroad with your animal and to avoid contracting rabies.
A trip abroad is getting ready. In addition to the obligation to have a valid passport, certain vaccinations may be required. And the same goes for your pet if it follows you on your journey, reminds the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on the occasion of the launch of its awareness campaign entitled “Beware of rabies” .
Still present in more than 150 countries around the world, rabies kills tens of thousands of people each year, mainly in Asia and Africa. “One every 10 minutes in the world”, specifies the ministry. Domestic dogs are the main route of transmission and are usually the cause of these fatal cases.
The World Health Organization estimates that every year around the world, 15 million people receive a serum after a bite.
In France, the virus has disappeared. All the cases recorded on the territory “come from contaminated animals abroad”, indicates the ministry. The last confirmed case dates from 2015. It was a dog illegally brought from North Africa. In 15 years, 11 cases of canine rabies have been identified. As to last human case, it was reported in 2014 in Ile-de-France. The man had contracted rabies in Mali and died in France.
Contact your veterinarian
However, there are ways to prevent the introduction of this disease in France, or even eliminate it. It is first of all strongly recommended during a stay in a country at risk not to touch a stray animal and especially not to bring it home.
In addition, for tourists traveling with their pets, it is advisable to check their vaccination record and to carry out any missing vaccines. The animal must of course be identified and have its passport. Finally, before leaving, it is better to warn the veterinarian 1 or 4 months in advance, because a blood test may be necessary to go to certain countries.
On return, owners must present their pet to the control authorities, otherwise criminal penalties could be applied.
How does rabies manifest?
Symptoms begin with a high fever with pain, itching, and a burning sensation in the area of the bite or scratch. The spread of the virus through the central nervous system causes progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
In about 70% of cases, the rabies takes the form “furious”, which is manifested by hyperactivity of the patient, fear of water (hydrophobia) and drafts of fresh air (aerophobia). Death occurs within a few days from cardio-respiratory arrest.
In the remaining third of patients, the form is said to be paralytic. The evolution is less spectacular but longer. The paralysis appears gradually and the coma sets in slowly.
.
