Rabies warning issued for dogs adopted from Russian organisation
The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain has warned of rabies in dogs that came to Belgium through a Russian organisation, after the disease was detected in an adopted dog in Germany.
As a precaution, it is contacting 50 owners of dogs adopted through the organisation in question in the past six months, the agency reported on Tuesday. There are currently no indications of infection in Belgium, according to the FASFC.
Owners are asked to be vigilant for behavioural changes or any symptoms in their animal. Nine dogs must remain in home isolation for six months after their arrival in Belgium.
The dog in Germany that developed the disease and died from it was younger than the age stated on its health certificate, making it impossible for the animal to have been correctly vaccinated. For animals from Russia, in addition to the vaccination itself, a blood test must be taken after one month and a three-month waiting period must be served before they can be brought into Europe.
"This is another wake-up call that there are serious risks associated with adopting dogs and cats from countries where rabies is still prevalent"
As fraud was found with the dog’s documents, the reliability of the health certificates of other dogs from the organisation is now also being questioned.
An animal with rabies is usually infectious from two weeks before symptoms appear. According to the FASFC, the infection may have happened during transport or, more likely, before leaving the assembly point in Russia or during the period when the animals were living on the streets. This means other dogs were at risk of infection.
Deadly infection
“This case of rabies is another wake-up call that there are serious risks associated with adopting dogs and cats from countries where rabies is still prevalent,” said FASFC spokesperson Hélène Bonte.
“We therefore strongly advise anyone adopting animals from such countries to be very vigilant for behavioural changes or other symptoms in their animal and to avoid any contact with humans and animals for six months after arrival.”
Rabies is one of the world’s deadliest viruses for animals and humans. About 60,000 people die each year from the disease, 40 per cent of whom are children.
It can be transmitted through a bite, a scratch or even a lick from an infected animal. Once symptoms appear, such as increased saliva production, aggressive behaviour, paralysis, fever, headache and reduced appetite, there is no treatment and the disease is fatal.
Stray dogs in the Russian city of Samara © PHOTO SVETLANA VOZMILOVA
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