Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ10: Contingency plan for outbreak of rabies
Following is a question by the Hon Margaret Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (December 13):
Question:
It has been reported that currently there is mass culling of dogs, irrespective
of whether they have been vaccinated against rabies or not, in various Mainland
provinces in response to recent rabies outbreaks. In this connection, will the
Government inform this Council of its contingency plan to deal with the cats,
dogs and wild animals in both rural and urban areas when there is an outbreak of
rabies in Hong Kong, and whether the plan involves culling or destroying of
animals; if so, whether dogs and other pets, with valid rabies vaccination
certification, will be exempted?
Reply:
Madam President,
Hong Kong has a very good track record of rabies control and we have been
rabies-free for 19 years. The last animal rabies case was reported in 1987. The
last human rabies case was reported in 2001 and the patient acquired the disease
abroad.
Our rabies free status is maintained by a well established rabies control system
under the Rabies Ordinance (Cap. 421) and its subsidiary legislation. According
to the Ordinance, all dogs over five months of age must be licensed,
microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. Hong Kong is the first place in the
world that requires microchipping of dogs for individual identification as a
part of the rabies control regime. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Department (AFCD) will also capture stray dogs.
Any dog that bit a person will be detained by AFCD for observation and those
which died during observation would be sent for rabies testing. To prevent the
introduction of rabies by importation of animals, a stringent import control and
quarantine system is in place. Countries are classified into three categories
according to their rabies risk. Dogs and cats from high risk countries will be
subject to a minimum of four months of quarantine, amongst a number of
requirements.
In the event of a local rabies outbreak, the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Conservation will declare the area concerned as rabies control area under
Cap. 421 and impose control measures within the area to regulate the movement of
animals within such area and to prohibit the movement of animals going in or out
of such area. AFCD will conduct house-to-house search for dogs without valid dog
licence (either unvaccinated or have expired vaccination certificate) and
stray/wild dogs within the rabies control area. These dogs will be seized and
destroyed. Dogs with valid licence will be spared.
To comply with the requirements stipulated in Cap. 421, owners of dogs over the
age of five months must have their dogs licensed and vaccinated against rabies.
The dogs have to be revaccinated against rabies and their licences have to be
renewed at intervals not exceeding three years. Owners failing to obtain
licences or renew the licences of their dogs according to the requirements in
Cap. 421 are liable to a fine of $10,000. Licensing, microchipping and
vaccination service are available at Government Animal Management Centres by
AFCD staff at $80. The services are also available at authorised private
veterinary clinics at a fee charged by the clinics. AFCD also conduct
inoculation campaign targeting at dogs on fishing vessels and at villages in the
New Territories.
Ends/Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:35
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