Rabies Protection
The UK has been completely rabies free for many years and there are well prepared contingency plans to deal with any possible outbreak.
Rabies is a notifiable viral infection of the central nervous system. The disease can be caught when a person is bitten by an infected animal (or human) or when saliva has been brought into contact with open skin.
The incubation period can last from a few days to several months, but once symptoms show, the disease is almost always fatal. The only hope is immunisation during incubation, but this is far from guaranteed to succeed.
Britain has been protected by the natural barrier of the English Channel and by strict animal import laws combined with quarantine restrictions or animal passports.
Animal Health Act 1981
Under the Animal Health Act 1981, the illegal importation of animals is still an offence and can result in unlimited fines and imprisonment.
Every effort is made to keep out rabies, from publicity campaigns by DEFRA to combat the smuggling of animals, to physical measure in the Channel Tunnel to stop wild animals and strays reaching Britain.
This involves declaring an infected place, policing infected areas by setting up compounds for strays and strictly monitoring all animal movements. It may be necessary to destroy animals, especially foxes, which are the most frequent carriers of the disease.
The Pets Travel Scheme
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) started in February 2000. You are now able to take your pet dog or cat to certain countries and bring them back into the UK without quarantine.
To do so, your pet must meet the rules of the scheme in this order:
- Be fitted with a microchip
- Be vaccinated against rabies
- Be blood tested to show that the vaccine is protecting your pet against rabies
- Be issued with an official PETS certificate
- Be treated against ticks and tapeworms just before it comes back into the UK
Once your pet has been successfully blood tested, your vet can then issue you with an official PETS certificate. Only government-authorised vets (known as Local Veterinary Inspectors or LVIs) can do this. Most small animal veterinary practices in the UK have an LVI working there.
To get your pet back into the UK, you will need, in addition to the PETS certificate, a vet's certificate to show that it has been treated against ticks and tapeworms. Your animal must enter England from a PETS country travelling on approved route with an approved transport company.
You can get more information from the PETS website: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine
Contact Details
For more information please contact Environmental Health
Telephone: 0121 704 6833
Email: environmentalhealth@solihull.gov.uk