Anyone taking their cat or dog abroad must have it vaccinated against rabies, the Food Chain Safety Agency (Afsca) reminds. “This precaution is necessary even for short stays in France or the Netherlands.“, she insists.
As the summer holidays approach, traveling abroad with your pet requires some anticipation. In fact, the rabies vaccine is only valid after 21 days.
The health agency also does not recommend taking home an animal found on the street abroad. “Due to strict European rabies vaccination regulations, it can take up to 4 months before the animal can legally return to Belgium.“, she warns. If a dog or cat has not been properly vaccinated, it may be turned away at the border. In addition, if rabies is suspected, the animal is euthanized.
These precautions should prevent the spread of one of the world’s deadliest viruses to humans and animals, Afska emphasizes. Every year, about 60,000 people die from rabies worldwide. In 99% of cases, infection occurred from a dog.
Infection can occur through a bite, scratch, or lick from an infected animal. If he doesn’t show signs of illness at first, he can already infect other animals and people, Afsca warns, so it doesn’t recommend petting or feeding unknown street animals.
Once symptoms appear (excessive drooling, aggression, paralysis, fever, headache, loss of appetite), there is no treatment. “Contracting this disease will always be fatal“
Last year, 85 animal rabies outbreaks were reported in Europe, mainly in Romania and Moldova. The popular location in Turkey was home to 240 families.
Belgium has been rabies-free since 2001.
Belga
■ Reporting from Léa Dubuc, Charles Carpro and Hugo Moriame
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