[The risk of rabies in France and the illegal importation of animals from rabid endemic countries].
BACKGROUND
Since October 2001, France has the status of a country free from rabies regarding warm-blooded animals. Nevertheless, the risk of rabies is ever present and related to the illegal importation of animals from countries in which rabies is considered to be endemic.


METHODS
In 2001, a puppy imported illegally from Morocco died from rabies in Gironde, requiring the prophylactic treatment of 21 persons exposed and the euthanasia of a contact animal, as well as the application of legal measures against the couple at the origin of the importation.


CONCLUSIONS
Illegal importations of animal from areas of rabid enzootics are frequent. It is important to inform all the tourists who visit these countries on the sanitary risks involved, in terms of human and animal health, in bringing such animals back to their own country.
Galpérine
Tatiana
T
Fédération de maladies infectieuses, Hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux. t.galperine@rpc-ap-hop-paris.fr
Neau
Didier
D
Moiton
Marie-Pierre
MP
Rotivel
Yolande
Y
Ragnaud
Jean-Marie
JM
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004285:Dogs; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D011640:Public Policy; D011818:Rabies / Q000635:transmission*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012499:Sanitation; D014195:Travel