Anyone who takes their cat or dog abroad is required to vaccinate them against rabies, recalls the Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca). “This precaution is essential even for a short stay in France or the Netherlands“, she insists.
As the summer holidays draw closer, a trip abroad with your pet requires some anticipation. The rabies vaccine is in fact only valid after 21 days.
The health agency also advises against taking an animal found on the street abroad to bring it home. “Due to strict European rules on rabies vaccination, it may take up to 4 months before the animal can legally re-enter Belgium“, she warns. If the dog or cat has not been properly vaccinated, it may be refused at the border. Additionally, if rabies is suspected, the animal will be euthanized.
These precautions must prevent the spread of one of the deadliest viruses in the world for humans and animals, underlines Afsca. Around 60,000 people die from rabies each year worldwide. In 99% of cases, the infection came from a dog.
Contamination can occur by bite, scratch or after being licked by an infected animal. If it does not show signs of the disease at the start, it can already contaminate other animals and people, warns Afsca, which therefore advises against petting or feeding unknown street animals.
There is no cure once symptoms appear (increased salivation, aggression, paralysis, fever, headache, loss of appetite). “Infection with the disease will always be fatal.”
Last year, 85 outbreaks of animal rabies were reported in Europe, mainly in Romania and Moldova. A popular destination, Turkey had 240 households.
Belgium has been rabies-free since 2001.
Belga
■ Reporting from Léa Dubuc, Charles Carpreau and Hugo Moriamé
