How do you control rabies?

Answer 1

Rabies is still a huge problem, and difficult to control. This is partly because it affects so many species. There are vaccinations available for animals, but you can't immunise every animal - bats can carry rabies, but vaccinating them as well as rats, Meerkats, mongoose, badgers, hedgehogs, wild game as well as domestic animals is unrealistic. I don't see that Rabies will be eradicated or even controlled in my lifetime.

The place to start is with education and awareness, starting with very young children. The rule of thumb is that if a friendly domestic animal becomes aggressive, get far away from it. If a wild animal seems friendly and unafraid of humans, get far away from it, and in both cases, notify the authorities urgently. The "authorities" will be the Police in most countries. This information needs to be repeated so often that the public get tired of hearing it.

Many countries with Rabies provide free vaccinations for domestic pets, and in some countries, owners face heavy fines and possibly the destruction of their pets unless they can produce valid Rabies vaccination certificates.

All countries with endemic Rabies have passed laws to make Rabies a notifiable disease, and are included in the statistics sent to the World Health Organisation.

The UK has strict animal importation laws. Anyone bringing an animal into the country is required by law to have the animal put in a Government approved kennels for 6 months before they are allowed to go and live with their owners. No pet owner likes that idea, but Rabies is such a dreadful disease that they just have to put up with it.

If you wish to take your pet on holiday, you have to apply for a Pet Passport. It takes about 7 months to get one because the animal has to be microchipped, then have blood taken by the Vet. Vaccinations are given, with follow up blood tests to assess if the animal is immune, then 'booster' jabs given followed by more blood tests. Unless you have all this paperwork signed by a registered Vet, you can not send the papers off to apply for a Pet passport.

The UK has an additional problem. It is very difficult to conceal an animal on an aircraft, but the UK has ferry, bus and train links to France, and they are not checked as diligently as aircraft are, and in practice, animals are smuggled in by ignorant people who do not understand the danger to other people and other animals. All they know is that they don't want to be parted from Dear Little Fluffy. By doing so, they create a major risk to thousands of people and animals, so the punishments are harsh when they are discovered.

I am an animal lover myself and I wouldn't want my pets to be quarantined for 6 months. And I may be tempted to smuggle an appealing creature who has stolen my heart into a UK bound train. But as a retired nurse who had to see a beautiful young boy die an appalling death from Rabies, I fully support the strict laws the UK has put in place.

Answer 2

It cant be slowed down.