Press Releases

Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies
Monday, October 22, 2001

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) reminds dog owners to have their dogs vaccinated against rabies as a precautionary measure against this disease. The appeal is made following the recent confirmation of an imported case of human rabies.

An AFCD spokesman said today (October 22), "Although the woman in last week's case was infected outside Hong Kong, it showed what a devastating and tragic disease rabies can be. We cannot afford to be complacent in keeping this disease out of Hong Kong".

Under the Rabies Ordinance, which has been in force since 1994, all dogs aged over five months must be vaccinated against rabies, licenced and microchipped to strengthen the prevention against this fatal disease.

It is also a requirement under the Ordinance for people to report dog bites to the Police, who will then forward information to AFCD for investigation.

"AFCD has a comprehensive anti-rabies programme with vaccination as the key measure." the spokesman said.

AFCD has recently stepped up the anti-rabies programme by conducting more visits to villages for vaccination of dogs against rabies and to eliminate stray dogs.

From January to September this year, some 9,400 stray dogs were caught territory-wide. Around 94,000 dogs are currently vaccinated and licenced.

"Licenced dogs in Hong Kong do not pose a significant threat as they have been vaccinated against rabies. However, to ensure an adequate level of protection against this disease, dogs must be re-vaccinated every three years, at which time the dog licence will be renewed," the spokesman stressed.

Vaccination is available from any private veterinary surgeon, the clinics of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or AFCD's animal management centres.

"There are still many parts of Asia where rabies in animals is not properly controlled. Rabies could be imported if someone smuggled infected animals into Hong Kong," the spokesman said.

To combat this, AFCD has stepped up publicity to prevent smuggling of animals. New posters have been placed at all border entry points warning people not to bring animals into Hong Kong without import permits.