Ports and harbours - rabies protection

The Public Health Team have a Rabies Control Plan to operate in the event of a report of rabies in the Borough.

Management of the control and investigation into outbreaks of infectious disease are carried out in close liaison with the local authority. The Council have a Rabies Control Plan, which is operated in conjunction with other local authorities and other agencies in the event of a Rabies outbreak.

Rabies is a notifiable viral infection of the central nervous system, which can affect almost all mammals, including humans.

The disease is invariably fatal once clinical signs develop. It has been recorded in most warm-blooded animals, both domesticated and wild. Man in turn has become exposed to the disease through contact with infected animals.

The disease can be caught when a person is bitten by an infected animal (including other humans) or when saliva enters an open wound. Cases of indirect transmission have been recorded when infected saliva has been brought into contact with open skin. The incubation period can last from a few days to several months but once the symptoms show, the disease is almost always fatal. The only hope is immunisation during incubation but this is far from guaranteed to succeed.

Apart from the immediate danger to health, the cost of controlling an outbreak of the disease would be immense.

In Britain, the fox is regarded as the most likely carrier in wild animals but most small wild animals, domesticated cats and dogs and farm animals can be infected. A different strain of rabies is transmitted by certain species of bats.

Positive action in Europe has seen a great reduction in reported rabies cases in recent years. However, there are parts of the world where rabies is still endemic. Fortunately, Britain has been protected by the natural barrier of the English Channel and by strict animal import laws combined with quarantine restrictions or animal passports.

Under the Animal Health Act 1981, the illegal importation of animals is an offence punishable by unlimited fines and imprisonment.

Every effort is made to keep out rabies, from publicity campaigns by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to combat the smuggling of animals, to physical measures in the Channel Tunnel to stop wild animals and strays reaching Britain.

Eligibility
The service is provided for the benefit of all residents

Required Customer Information
If you see what you think is a potentially rabid dog, it should be reported to the Animal Welfare Officer, the Police or the Department of Environment, Food, the Regions

Service Level Agreement and Turnaround
First response within 24 hours.
Update or Full response within 10 working days

More information about this service

Contact Us

Frequently asked questions

Address:
London Borough of Enfield, Environmental Health & Regulation,
PO Box 57,
Civic Centre,
Silver Street,
Enfield,
Middlesex,
EN1 3XH
Map

Telephone:
0208 379 1000

Fax:
0208 379 3667

Opening Hours:
8.30am – 5.00pm
Monday- Friday

Useful Links