Are you going on holiday abroad? Watch out for stray animals as they could be infected with rabies. The Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood and Forestry launched Friday, June 26 a campaign entitled “Beware of rabies” in order to make holidaymakers aware of the rage.
11 cases of rabies in France due to imported animals
“Rabies kills a person every 10 seconds in the world”, insists the ministry.
Since 2001, 11 cases of rabies have been identified in France, while the disease is absent from France. These cases were all linked to animals infected abroad and imported into French territory.
Rabies: tips to protect yourself
The ministry advises travelers not to touch any stray animal and not to bring back any animal, however cute, from a country at risk. An animal brought in illegally can be infected and contaminate.
Also, if you are bitten, scratched or licked on a wound, contact a doctor or local health authorities immediately.
Precautions when traveling with a pet
If you are traveling with a pet, precautions are also necessary. You must “contact the veterinarian 4 months before departure, the animal must be identified by its passport, its vaccines must be up to date, a blood test is necessary for countries at risk”.
At your return to France, you must present your pet to the customs authorities. “Failure to comply with regulatory obligations is punishable by criminal penalties (article L237-3 of the Rural Code and maritime fishing)”, recalls the ministry.
You can consult the list of countries at risk on the ministry website.
Read also :
– Rabies: the worrying human cost linked to the lack of vaccination
– Dog bites: 4 good reflexes
