“A case of rabies in a puppy in War was confirmed by the National Rabies Reference Laboratory in Nancy on January 5, 2024. The animal, illegally imported from Morocco, died 13 days after entering its territory”, the ministry indicates. A press release.
The ministry said the puppy entered the country by air on December 16 and died of rabies on December 29.
“All people exposed to the animal were contacted by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regional health agency and taken care of by the anti-rabies center,” according to the ministry’s press release.
The animal did not bite anyone but “a person was +pinched + and taken care of by the Var Anti-Rabies Center”, Var prefecture told AFP, adding that legal proceedings were “currently in progress”, without giving further details. was mentioned.
The ministry’s website recalls that rabies is “a disease that is systematically fatal once symptoms appear, both in humans and animals.”
Contamination of humans occurs through saliva from animal bites, scratches, damaged skin, or licking of mucous membranes (eyes, mouths), but is not transmitted during pet care. Animal, we specify. The disease is not transmissible between humans.
Since 2001, France has been officially recognized as free of rabies (except for bats), but the deadly disease has spread to many countries, especially in Asia and Africa, where dogs are responsible for most cases of rabies. Transmission to humans, suggests the website of the Ministry of Agriculture. Very rare cases have been detected in France, including in October 2022.
“Only vaccination and compliance with certain safety instructions can protect animals and people,” the ministry underlined.
“Dogs and cats are prohibited from being brought back into French territory”, unless they have a “vaccination record and health certificate established by the country’s health authorities”, and in particular “a valid anti-rabies vaccination”, it recalls. ministry