The Council of Agriculture (COA) said yesterday that it will step up checks of animals imported from non-epidemic areas to stem the inflow of rabies.
The COA's announcement followed the first reported human death in Taiwan in 43 years from the acute, infectious and often fatal disease earlier this month, although the woman who died was from China and only visiting in Taiwan.
COA officials said that under current regulations, imported cats and dogs from non-epidemic regions are able to enter Taiwan after the point-of-entry harbors or air terminals confirm the animals are in good health. Animals imported from epidemic areas must be vaccinated and placed in quarantine for a period of 21 days before they can enter Taiwan.
Currently, only six countries -- Japan, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden and Iceland -- are listed by the government as rabies-free countries.
The officials said that recent reports show that dogs originating from epidemic areas have entered Taiwan via Japan after receiving certification in the rabies-free country.
The officials said that the government has requested the Japanese side to check the reports and has asked for stepped up checks on the documents issued by rabies-free countries, requiring that those animals coming from rabies-free areas receive transplant chips and have blood samples taken in order to monitor whether there are antibodies in their bodies.
The officials also urged the public to report any illegal imports of cats or dogs by calling the toll-free line 0800-039131, in order to help safeguard Taiwan as the only Asian country other than Japan to be rabies-free.
Currently, around 70 percent of domestic dogs in urban areas have been vaccinated against the disease, while the percentage in rural areas is about 30 percent to 40 percent, the officials said.
Despite the fact that the national average is just 50 percent, he added that about 70 percent of domesticated dogs have rendered antibodies for the disease.
Rabies is a viral disease that can affect most warm-blooded animals, especially wolves, cats and dogs. It attacks the central nervous system and is transmitted by the bite of infected animals.
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