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Three people getting treatment for rabies after dog attack

26/04/2008

Three people are receiving treatment for the viral disease rabies after being bitten by a dog.

A puppy, which was imported into the UK from Sri Lanka, was being kept under quarantine in a facility in Essex when it bit three members of staff at the centre.

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs said tests conducted at the complex after the dog was taken in on April 18th showed that it had tested positive for the disease which could prove fatal for those bitten by the dog if not treated quickly. The dog died yesterday of the disease while under quarantine.

Acting chief veterinary officer Alick Simmons said: "While initial tests show that this puppy has tested positive for rabies, this shows that the system is working and the case has been picked up while the animal is in quarantine. This means it is contained and the UK's rabies free status remains in place.

"We are now tracing animals that have moved from the kennels to ensure that all animals that have come into contact with the puppy are monitored," he added.

"However, any risk of the disease having spread to other animals is highly unlikely."

An expert in the disease from the Health Protection Agency, Dr Dilys Morgan, said there was no threat to public health from the puppy. The doctor said all three individuals were undergoing protective treatment to prevent the spread of the disease.

Dr Morgan said: "Even if someone has been bitten by an animal with rabies, prompt post-exposure treatment following the bite is highly effective in preventing rabies."

Rabies affects the nervous system of mammals and can spread if someone is scratched or bitten by an infected animal.