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Rabies discovered in a dog in the Seine-et-Marne area. |
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Friday, 29 February 2008 |
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On February 26, 2008
results from the Institute Pasteur were positive for a dog suspected of
rabies. The dog had bitten a child, and was euthanised and the head
sent for examination the next day.
The rabies viral source was the souche canine morocaine
(Morocccan strain). This is obviously worrying, and investigations are
in process to try and discover how the dog was infected. About 20
people, who have had contact with the dog, have had treatment at the
Centre antirabique.
On the website www.seine-et-marne.pref.gouv.fr
there is a reminder that all dogs and cats who bite a human must be
seen by an approved vet (one holding a ‘mandat sanitaire’) within 24
hours. They are examined and placed under veterinary surveillance for
15 days, at the owner’s cost. This involves isolating the animal at the
vets or your home, and a visit 7 and 15 days later. The owner, police, mairie and Direction des services vétérinaires then receive copies of
the certificates of surveillance.
If
you are bitten it is important to clean the wound well with water and
soap, then rinse and apply an antiseptic. Go to the doctor who will
send you to a centre antirabique if he feels it is necessary.
Rabies
is a potentially fatal disease, and the virus is secreted up to 15 days
before clinical symptoms appear. In my opinion, we should help confine
this disease by vaccinating our companion animals. This can be often be
done at the same time as the other vaccinations, reducing the cost of
the vaccine.
by Dr Diana James
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