A puppy, illegally imported from Morocco by an individual, died in the Var. What are the risks of this disease?
- A case of rabies in a puppy in the Var was confirmed on January 5, 2024.
- The animal, illegally imported from Morocco, died thirteen days after its arrival in the territory.
- All people exposed to the animal were contacted by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Regional Health Agency and taken care of by an anti-rabies center.
A case of rabies was identified in Var on January 5, 2024 by the National Rabies Reference Laboratory in Nancy. The Ministry of Agriculture specified in a communicated that the puppy “illegally imported from Morocco, died 13 days after his introduction into the territory”.
Rage : the people exposed were taken in charge
The animal infected with rabies arrived in France by plane on December 16 and died on December 29. “All people exposed to the animal were contacted by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regional health agency and taken care of by an anti-rabies center”indicate the Ministry of Agriculture in its press release of January 16, 2024.
No bites – one of the possible modes of transmission of the disease – have been noted. On the other hand, “a person was pinched and was taken care of by the Var anti-rabies center”specified the Var prefecture to AFP, then adding that a legal procedure was “currently in progress”.
Rage : a fatal disease without vaccination
Rabies is caused by a virus like Lyssavirus present in the saliva of animals such as dogs, cats, foxes and even bats. “Human contamination occurs by bite, scratch, licking by an animal, by means of saliva on damaged skin or on the mucous membrane (eye, mouth)“, specifies the Ministry of Agriculture in its press release. The disease causes encephalitis, or a brain infection. It can lead to a change in behavior, loss of consciousness which can lead to coma or, more rarely, motor problems (numbness of a limb, paralysis) and difficulty speaking.
According to the Pasteur Institute, the infection is responsible for around 59,000 annual deaths worldwide, mainly in Asia and Africa. “Rabies is fatal in 100% of cases and death occurs within a few days after the onset of clinical signs”specify the authorities, then adding: “alone vaccination and compliance with precise safety instructions can protect animals and people“.
If France is officially recognized “free from rabies (excluding bats)”a few cases have been recorded in recent years. Contamination following the bite of a man by an infected bat was recorded in 2008 in Guyana. The Ministry of Health also reports on its site the death in 2019 of a patient, regularly in contact with bats, who died of encephalitis attributed to an Lyssavirus Of type European Bat Lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1). “This is the 4th confirmed case in the world of human infection by a EBLVand the first case of indigenous rabies in mainland France since 1924”specifies the ministry. Furthermore, in October 2023, a woman living in Reims also died of the disease after being scratched by a cat during a stay in the Maghreb.
Rage : what to do in case of bites?
After being bitten by an animal that may carry rabies, you must:
- to clean carefully clean the wound with soap and water, then rinse thoroughly;
- apply an antiseptic solution;
- to consult a doctor who will check your vaccination against tetanus and rabies: he will decide (re)vaccination if necessary. IHe may also prescribe antibiotic therapy and, if necessary, refer the patient to an anti-rabies center.
In addition, any animal that has bitten or scratched a person, “even without being explicitly suspected of rabies”is subject to veterinary surveillance for 15 days to estimate the risk of contamination.
