(CN) China orders compulsory rabies shots for dogs

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China orders compulsory rabies shots for dogs

2008-01-18

 

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities have ordered all dogs to

receive a mandatory inoculation against rabies as the country fights a rising

number of human rabies cases, the ministries of Health and agriculture said in a

circular on Friday.

 

By the end of November, China reported 3,010 rabies cases compared with

3,279 in 2006, 2,537 in 2005, and 2,651 in 2004 during the same period, the

Ministry of Health figures showed.

 

Between 2004 and 2006, rabies claimed 8,403 people, accounting for 30.1

percent of the total deaths from infectious disease in the same time period.

 

" With the increasing number and density of dogs in some cities and rural

areas, less than 10 percent were vaccinated against rabies, " the circular said.

 

Statistics show Beijing alone has more than 703,800 registered dogs. The

number is likely larger when including those that are unregistered.

 

Given the " extremely serious " situation, the ministries have ordered the

strengthening of vaccination work and the compulsory vaccination of all dogs.

 

All inoculated dogs must be given uniformed certificates and wear relevant

emblems, according to the circular.

 

The compulsory vaccination order was backed by the newly-amended law on

animal epidemic prevention that took effect on Jan. 1. It asked all animal

owners to comply with compulsory vaccination policies.

 

The revised law sets up a compulsory animal vaccination system, requiring

immunization of animals against diseases harmful to people's health and the

husbandry industry.

 

It made clear that animals stated in the law " include pets " and all

stipulations on animal immunization in the law were " fit for pets " .

 

Rabies is an acute viral infection that is nearly always fatal if left

untreated. It can be transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, usually a

dog. It kills about 50,000 globally each year.

 

Editor: Yan Liang

 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/18/content_7449411.htm

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China orders compulsory rabies shots for dogs

Jan 17, 2008

 

BEIJING, Jan 18 (Reuters) - China has ordered all dogs be given compulsory

inoculations against rabies to try to quell an upsurge in the disease amongst

humans, the Health Ministry announced on Friday.

 

The country has an exploding dog population, but less than 10 percent are

vaccinated against rabies, the ministry's official Health News said.

 

China recorded 3,311 human cases last year, up from 2,651 in 2004, it added.

 

" The situation is extremely serious, " the report said.

 

" In order to control as soon as possible the rise in infections and protect

people's health and security, the Health and Agriculture Ministries have

demanded the strengthening of vaccination work and that all dogs be inoculated, "

it added.

 

It did not say how much the push would cost, nor provide details on how the

order would be enforced. Once banned as a bourgeois extravagance in China's

Communist heyday, pet ownership has shot up since economic reforms began in the

late 1970s.

 

The government tries to enforce a " one-dog policy " in cities and a size

requirement that bans large dogs, saying one of the reasons is to keep a lid on

rabies.

 

But it has come under criticism for cruely removing pets from owners and

arbitrary application of rules.

 

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Alex Richardson)

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK48473