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<br /><p>The quantitative rabies risk assessment carried out prior to harmonisation
with the EU pet travel rules in 2012 took into account, amongst other things, a number
of variables including a doubling in the number of cats and dogs entering the country.
Pets entering on a UK pet passport (i.e. returning from an overseas visit) were not
included in this analysis as they must be fully protected against rabies before leaving
the UK. We are continuing to monitor the factors considered in the risk assessment
and are content that the risk remains very low. The risk assessment was published
in 2011 and is available here:</p><p><a href="http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.395.143&rep=rep1&type=pdf"
target="_blank">http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.395.143&rep=rep1&type=pdf</a></p><p><br></p><p>In
2010 we carried out an assessment of risk from the tapeworm <em>Echinococcus Multilocularis</em>
in readiness for harmonisation and which confirmed continuing risk through the movement
of pet dogs. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animal-diseases-international-monitoring"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animal-diseases-international-monitoring</a>
As a result, the UK continues to maintain its controls against <em>Echinococcus multilocularis</em>.
Since 1 January 2012 import controls relating to this tapeworm have been implemented
under EU Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1152/2011. This Regulation lays down
the tapeworm import conditions which pet dogs must comply with when being moved into
the UK from other countries. The European Food Safety Authority is currently assessing
how the new regulation has been implemented in the free countries (Ireland, Malta,
Finland and the UK) and this includes a new assessment of any change in risk. Experts
from the UK as well as other Member States have been part of this working group and
the opinion will be published in 2016 prior to the review of the legislation required
in December 2016. We are continuing to monitor the factors considered in the risk
assessment as we do for any notifiable disease and will take the EFSA opinion into
account when it is finalised.</p><br /><p>Officials from the Department work closely
with colleagues from public health and food safety to assess the risk posed to people
by zoonotic diseases. While a number of mechanisms exist for this purpose depending
on the specific disease, the main cross – Government group that identifies and assesses
emerging infection risks to human health (non-food borne disease) is the HAIRS (Human
Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance) group which meets on a monthly basis and
includes veterinary experts from the APHA:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/human-animal-infections-and-risk-surveillance-group-hairs.%0d"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/human-animal-infections-and-risk-surveillance-group-hairs.</a></p>
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