DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (130/08) issued by
The Government News Network on 7 May 2008
Information Bulletin
Defra and the Health Protection Agency have carried out a full
and thorough investigation following confirmation of rabies on 25
April in a dog which had originated in Sri Lanka and which died of
rabies in a UK quarantine facility.
That investigation has now concluded. In the light of the
findings of the investigation, restrictions placed on the
quarantine facility on 25 April can be lifted. This also allows us
to lift the precautionary restrictions placed on four other dogs
that had been released from the same facility when they completed
their quarantine period after the dog which died of rabies arrived
from Sri Lanka.
A full tracing exercise for animals and humans that may have been
in contact with the infected dog was carried out and
satisfactorily concluded. Medical advice and treatment, where
appropriate, was given to all people who had been in contact with
the dog and were considered to be at risk. Even if someone has
been bitten by an animal with rabies, prompt post-exposure
treatment is highly effective in preventing rabies in humans.
In addition, results from tests on four dogs which were humanely
destroyed on 25 April because they were considered to be high risk
show that these dogs were not in the later stages of rabies and
were not, at the time they were destroyed, infective to other
animals at the quarantine.
Defra worked closely with the Health Protection Agency and the
Department of Health to ensure that any risks to human and animal
health were minimised. The Health Protection Agency is content
that restrictions are being lifted.
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