Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system of mammals, making it one of the most deadly diseases known. It’s caused by a virus in the Rhabdoviridae family, specifically the Lyssavirus genus. Rabies can affect all mammals. Not just dogs, but also cats, ferrets, and cattle are domesticated animals that can contract rabies. Additionally, rabies can be spread by wild creatures like bats, skunks, racoons, foxes, and coyotes. Rabies is dangerous because it’s primarily transmitted to humans from the saliva of infected animals, commonly through bites, scratches, or open wounds.
Pet import regulations change depending on the country your pet is traveling to. Most countries have quarantines and other health tests to be entirely sure that rabies and other exotic diseases do not enter the country. The length of quarantine, the veterinary requirements, and the health tests are different for different country categories. Therefore, understanding rabies country classification is essential for managing your pet’s travel advice
and implementing effective preventive measures. In order to properly handle your pet’s travel plans, you must first understand your country’s category as well as the category of the country to which you will be traveling.
Be Aware of Your Country’s Classification
Globally, countries are divided into three categories in terms of rabies. This classification helps determine vaccination and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) strategies for at-risk travelers and professionals.
● High-risk rabies countries: These countries have a high incidence of rabies where rabies occurs in both domestic animals and wildlife. This is due to factors like a lack of effective animal vaccination programs, the presence of rabies in wildlife, and the number of human rabies cases reported. If pets are traveling from these countries to a country from a different category, they must spend time in quarantine. This category includes a large number of countries such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tanzania, Kenya, Brazil, Bolivia and more.
● Low-risk rabies countries: These are countries where rabies is not considered a widespread risk due to various factors and strategic interventions that have effectively managed and suppressed the disease. They have robust animal vaccination programs, effective strays management, and strong surveillance and reporting systems for rabies. These countries include the United Kingdom, Norway, Bahrain, Belgium, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Grenada, Hong Kong, Hungary, Kuwait, Latvia, Qatar, Slovakia, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago.
● Rabies-free countries: These countries have no confirmed cases of rabies in domestic animals and wildlife over a specific period of time, generally past two years. This designation implies that the country has successfully eradicated or prevented the introduction of rabies, safeguarding both human and animal populations from the disease. The countries are American Samoa, Antigua, Aruba, Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, England, Fiji, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Guam, Hawaii, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Malta, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Saint Lucia,
Scotland, Singapore, Sweden, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, Vatican.
❖ You can use this list as a general reference. It is advised to check the categories for the destination country before making any plans to travel if you intend to take your pet there.
Moving from one country category to another
The ease or difficulty of transporting pets across nations, particularly in terms of rabies status, depends heavily on by the rabies classifications of the originating and destination countries. If your pet is moving from one country to another, the rabies risk categorisation of both countries has to be considered before making travel plans.
● Same Category Movement
Generally, movement between countries with similar rabies status (from one rabies-free country to another, from a low-risk country to another low-risk country or from a high-risk country to another high-risk country) tends to be relatively straightforward, although standard documentation and health checks are typically required. Typically, in order for your pet to travel, it must meet all the country’s veterinary requirements including import permits and valid vaccinations. In most cases, your pet will not be quarantined either.
● Low Risk to High Risk Movement
Moving pets from a low-risk or rabies-free country to a high-risk country might not require stringent rabies-specific documentation, though general health checks and documentation are still likely necessary. Your pet will have to fulfill all veterinary requirements including valid rabies vaccination, a pet passport and other health documents. Most countries do require a rabies titre test or quarantine and some are not. However, it’s crucial to consider the potential risks and challenges in bringing the pet back or to another low-risk country.
● High Risk to Low Risk Movement
Indeed, moving pets from a high-risk country to a low-risk or rabies-free country usually involves stringent requirements to ensure the animal is not carrying rabies. Your pet will have to satisfy all veterinary and biosecurity regulations to be able to travel. Valid vaccinations and a rabies titre test are mandatory for most countries. Usually additional documentation and health tests are required as well like microchip and parasite treatments. Quarantine period is depending on the country your pet is traveling to.
Rabies-free countries such as Australia and New Zealand do not permit the entry of animals from high-risk countries. If your pet is traveling from a high-risk country, he or she will have to spend six months or more in a low-risk country before allowed entry into such countries.
Get Professional Assistance
Moving to a different country with a pet might be difficult due to the various nations’ complex pet import restrictions. The documentation and health tests must be accurate and completed on time; failing to do so may result in your pet being denied entrance, requiring more health tests, or spending additional time in quarantine.
If you are going to relocate your pet dog or cat internationally, please contact us at cs@petair.my for a complete travel itinerary and additional pet relocation information.