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A health worker gives a rabies shot to a stray dog at a government shelter in Phuket, Thailand, in March 30, 2005. The country had to tackle a serious outbreak of rabies in 2018. Photo: Reuters

Letters | Real rabies risk saw stowaway dog from Thailand put down by Hong Kong officials

  • While Hong Kong has been rabies-free for decades, the disease claims 60,000 lives around the world annually. Thailand grappled with a serious outbreak last year
Recently it was reported that a dog from Thailand was brought to Hong Kong by ship, apparently mistakenly, without the proper documentation and permit (“Outrage over dog euthanised after reaching Hong Kong on Thai cargo vessel”, March 14). The dog was euthanised by government vets.

The case generated a significant amount of interest and discussion, most of which appeared to suggest that the authorities had somehow acted erroneously.

We would like to point out that the reason for strict import controls is to protect human and animal health in Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong has been free of rabies for over 30 years, it is easily forgotten that this deadly disease is responsible for nearly 60,000 human deaths worldwide annually. According to data from the World Organisation for Animal Health, Thailand reported nearly 800 cases of rabies in animals (mainly dogs) in 2017 and more than 1,000 in the first six months of 2018. So, the risk is real, not imagined.

In Belgium, two illegally imported Pomeranians were put down by a local veterinary surgeon under police supervision in April 2018. This intervention by the Belgian government to protect the dogs in their own country is understandable, given the enormous risks Belgium is already facing from the huge import of dogs – mostly illegal – from Eastern Europe. Strict adherence to the existing legislation is perhaps the only way to make people aware of the rules.

A photo posted online of the dog from Thailand that was put down by Hong Kong officials. Photo: Internet

The UK government has alerted citizens to ongoing illegal trade in puppies imported from Eastern Europe. People have been warned about the risk of rabies from illegally imported puppies and that these animals may get destroyed.

While the outcome of the case in Hong Kong has understandably saddened many people, we believe that the authorities have acted in the overall public interest in making the decision.

Tommy Wong, chairman, Association of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Welfare, Central

 

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