Eurotunnel sought advice from the French Rabies Research Centre whilst installing anti-rabies equipment in the Channel Tunnel.
Rabies is a deadly disease that is transmitted to humans from animals and is caused by a virus. Rabies infects domestic and wild animals, and is spread to people through close contact with infected saliva (via bites or scratches). The disease is present on nearly every continent of the world but most human deaths occur in Asia and Africa (more than 95%). Once symptoms of the disease develop, rabies is fatal. During the last century rabies has spread throughout parts of Central and Western Europe. Foxes have been the main host, but other mammals have also been infected, including not only dogs and cats, but also cattle, horses, badgers, martens, deer, sheep, goats and racoon dogs. However, during the last 10 years, the incidence of endemic, fox-adapted rabies in Western Europe has fallen dramatically, and it appears to have been virtually eliminated from the EU. This has been largely due to the success of co-ordinated wildlife vaccination programmes, together with the availability of effective commercial vaccination for domestic animals. In 1994, the opening of the Channel Tunnel provided a new link between Great Britain and the rest of Europe. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was involved in negotiations on the building of the tunnel and anti-rabies measures were incorporated in its construction to prevent the possible illicit entry of rabies-susceptible animals. These measures include electrostatic grids within the tunnels and electric fences at every tunnel access point. The opening of the Channel Tunnel has, therefore, not significantly increased the risk of rabies being spread to the UK. Great Britain has been rabies-free since 1922, which is often considered to be in part due to the strict laws requiring that imported cats and dogs be vaccinated and quarantined for 6 months immediately on entry into the country. Except for two isolated incidents, this quarantine policy has contributed to ensuring that Great Britain has remained free of rabies.
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Location: Rabies Research Centre, France.
Photo credit: © qaphotos.com / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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