An extremely rare case of canine rabies detected in a dog that bit several people, in Île-de-France

A deceased dog, which would have been brought from abroad, had rabies and bit several people in Île-de-France.

Is rabies back in France?

If it is still too early to say, the existence of an extremely rare case detected in the Paris region is cause for shudder, especially since the dog enraged, who was obviously from abroad, did not hesitate to to bite several people.

Illustrative image. Photo credit: Istock

A case of rabies detected in a dog from abroad

« The Institut Pasteur confirmed on Thursday (October 27) a case of rabies in a Husky cross-type dog detained in a shelter in Évry-Courcouronnes in Essonne (91) “Indicates the Ministry of Agriculture in a press release.

« The animal developed the first signs on October 19 and died on October 25. Throughout the period of contagiousness (up to 15 days before the first signs), the dog remained in the shelter, alone in its box “, specifies the ministry which adds that the canid “ had contracted rabies before arriving at the shelter (…) given the incubation period ».

According to the first elements available to the authorities, “ this dog could have been illegally imported from Morocco, a country where rabies is endemic ».

Illustrative image. Photo credit: Istock

The Ministry of Agriculture also specifies that people who have been bitten by the animal “ were quickly taken care of by the rabies center of the Institut Pasteur, which administered a very effective post-exposure prophylactic treatment ».

Other people identified as having been exposed to the dog were also contacted by the Île-de-France Regional Health Agency, which directed them to a consultation at an anti-rabies centre.

As a reminder, since 2001, France has been officially recognized as rabies-free, but the disease continues to circulate in many countries, particularly on the Asian and African continents.