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Eradicated in France, rabies is still present in many countries around the world. This is why the Ministry of Agriculture launched its annual information and prevention campaign “Watch out for rabies” at the end of June. Focus on the prevention measures to follow before and during the trip.
With this campaign, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty wishes to make travelers aware of a disease that is sometimes forgotten – because it is absent from France – but extremely dangerous.
The contamination of the human being is done exclusively by an animal by means of saliva by biting, scratching, licking on excoriated skin or on mucous membrane (eye, mouth)… Rabies is not transmitted between humans.
“An animal that travels is a risk of rabies”
“The cases of rabies in France all come from animals infected abroad”, warns the ministry. France is regularly confronted with the disease, due to illegal imports of pets from countries where rabies is still present.
“For example, in February 2020, a case of rabies was detected in a puppy brought back from Morocco via Spain. Once the symptoms appeared, rabies is always fatal”in animals and in humans, explains the Ministry of Agriculture.
It is for this reason that there are instructions to follow before traveling with your pet:
- It is advisable to contact your veterinarian sufficiently early before departure (from 1 to 4 months depending on the destination);
- Your animal must be identified and accompanied by its up-to-date passport;
- Your pet’s vaccinations must be up to date, especially the one against rabies;
- A blood test to carry out the serum titration of anti-rabies antibodies is necessary before traveling to certain countries at risk of rabies.
Failure to comply with these instructions is subject to criminal penalties.
Be vigilant on the spot
Around the world, rabies kills one person every ten minutes. The campaign thus recalls the importance of being extremely vigilant in the event of a bite, in countries where rabies is widely present.
During a stay abroad in a country at risk:
- Do not touch any stray animals;
- Do not bring back an animal that does not meet the health obligations (to be found at the French Embassy, departmental veterinary services, Ministry of Agriculture);
- If you are bitten, scratched or licked on a wound, contact a doctor or the local health authorities;
- If you left with your animal, present it to the control authorities on your return.
If you wish to bring a pet from abroad, it is necessary to “find out about the health conditions for introducing or importing pets into France from the French authorities (French Embassy, departmental veterinary services, Ministry of Agriculture)”.
A reception procedure adapted to Ukraine
Given the current context of the war in Ukraine, the procedure for welcoming dogs and cats from Ukrainian refugees has been facilitated.
A derogatory system for the emergency reception of their animals and the payment of veterinary costs have been put in place in order to “prevent any health risk linked to the entry of animals into the national territory”. Several associations – such as Vétérinaires Pour Tous or the Brigitte Bardot Foundation – and veterinary practices are joining forces to fully cover the cost of this monitoring and veterinary care for refugee animals.
This reception procedure adapted “is all the more essential as Ukraine is not free from rabies”underlines the Ministry of Agriculture.