Rabies returns to Spain since 1975

[Still Waters]

A pit bull that attacked four children and an adult in central Spain was infected with rabies, marking the first recorded case of the disease on the Iberian Peninsula in almost four decades.

Authorities in Castile-La Mancha have declared a state of high alert and ordered the compulsory vaccination of all dogs and cats within a 18 mile radius of where the attacks took place.

http://www.telegraph...since-1975.html

[Clarakore]

I wonder if the ghost of Franco has returned with it. His spirit has also been absent since 1975.

[keithisco]

Truly unbelievable!!

Morocco is not part of the Pet Passport scheme and the animal SHOULD have been quarantined for 6 months on arrival back at any port in Spain. This is the LAW!!

ALL Pit Bulls must be registered as a dangerous breed in Spain, they are limited in terms of movement, cannot (under any circumstance) go out in public areas with a lead longer than 1 metre, or without a muzzle, and are being actively bred out of existence through mandatory speying.

To my thinking, a person (who criminally changes his dog's Passport) yet pays all of the money to take a Ferry to Morocco with his dog is doing so for just 1 reason - to buy drugs and using the poor dog as "backup".

I am closely following this in the Spanish Press, but at the least he will be spending a couple of years at His Majesty's Pleasure, and for life if the 2 year old child bitten by this dog, contracts Hydrophobia... serves him right...

[Ashotep]

Doctored veterinary records to get him in the country, he needs to go to jail. Article didn't mention how long this dog had been in the country. Could of gotten it from a wild animal there if its been back in the country for a while although the incubation period in humans can be from days to years. Typical is several weeks to months.

http://www.immunize....atg.d/p4216.pdf

I found it amazing that up to 55,000 people a year die from rabies around the world. Deaths in US are rare.

Edited June 11, 2013 by Hilander

[keithisco]

Doctored veterinary records to get him in the country, he needs to go to jail. Article didn't mention how long this dog had been in the country. Could of gotten it from a wild animal there if its been back in the country for a while although the incubation period in humans can be from days to years. Typical is several weeks to months.

http://www.immunize....atg.d/p4216.pdf

I found it amazing that up to 55,000 people a year die from rabies around the world. Deaths in US are rare.

"El Pais" says that the animal was taken to Morocco at the beginning of this year for 4 months before returning to Toledo (which is just 40 minutes from the Capital of Spain (Madrid)). The potential harm caused if the dog had been taken to Madrid is beyond even contemplation.