THE IRISH public could be exposed to a disease more dangerous than rabies if the EU removes some requirements in the “Pet Passport” scheme next July.
Veterinary Ireland yesterday expressed grave concern at the risk of importation of dog and fox tapeworms, Echinococcus multilocularis(EM), which in turn causes Alveolar Echinococcosis(AE) in humans.
Alan Rossiter, chairman of Veterinary Ireland’s Companion Animal Society (Vicas), said he was more worried about the importation of EM than rabies, which kills 55,000 people a year.
“Unlike the general public in mainland Europe, we know nothing of this disease here and this is how we want to keep it,” he said ahead of a vote next Tuesday in Brussels to allow the changes to relax animal movements.
“Left untreated, AE is fatal in up to 95 per cent of cases, but the current controls are effective at keeping it out of Ireland,” said Mr Rossiter. “However, any changes in the current regulations would make it almost inevitable we will get EM. If we did get EM into Ireland it would probably be impossible to eliminate.
“In this respect EM is a more serious long-term threat than rabies, which could be eliminated, and we must do all we can to convince the EU to maintain the current effective, simple, inexpensive and entirely proportionate regulation,” he added.
"EM causes no symptoms in animals but when humans contract this parasite, which is passed in the faeces of infected animals, it causes a disease known as Alveolar Echinococcosis(AE)."
AE results in tumour-like cysts growing in the liver, lungs and brain and, if untreated, is fatal in up to 95 per cent of cases. Symptoms mimic those of liver cancer or cirrhosis of the liver, or tumours of the lung and brain. Treatment is possible but it involves invasive and debilitating surgery to remove the cyst.
Studies in parts of France have shown up to 50 per cent of the fox population and up to 17 per cent of pet dogs are infected with EM.