Rabies Protection

Rabies is a very serious disease that can be life threatening. It is transmitted to humans from the bodily fluids including the saliva of a rabid animal. If someone is bitten or scratched by an animal suspected of having rabies, they must seek immediate medical attention.

It is illegal to import any animal not having a valid vet passport or declaring the animal for quarantine. It is also illegal to house any animal suspected of having been imported into the country illegally.

Rabies affects bats as well as terrestrial animals. A strain of rabies called European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV 2) has been found in Daubenton's bats in the UK on four occasions. There was also a fatal human case of rabies in Scotland in December 2002.
If you find a sick or ailing bat you should not approach or handle it but seek advice from the Bat Conservation Trust Helpline on 0845 130 0228. If you find a dead bat, you should also ring this Helpline for advice before attempting to handle it.

Rabies control is approached on a national level by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department of Health who maintain and cooperate on joint contingency plans.

Across Buckinghamshire Animal Health issues are the responsibility of Buckinghamshire Trading Standards however both District and County Councils maintain plans in respect of the potential for infection of animals or people within the Buckinghamshire.

Defra Website: www.defra.gov.uk (Opens new window to defra website)

What Defra do:

• National Animal Health and Welfare Strategy
• Animal Welfare at Farms, Markets, Slaughterhouses
• The Pet Travel Scheme
• International Trade in Animals
• Animal Diseases - Control and Surveillance, BSE,
• Tuberculosis, Scrapie, Foot and Mouth Disease
• Animal by-products
• Wildlife Conservation and Biodiversity
• Wildlife Crime
• Defra Helpline: 08459 33 55 77