CHINGFORD: Kennels restrictions lifted after rabies outbreak

5:34pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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RESTRICTIONS on a quarantine centre in Chingford where kennel workers were bitten by a rabid puppy have now been lifted.

Charity worker Kim Cooling, kennel worker Sarah Page, and another employee were nipped by a mongrel Millie at Chingford Quarantine Kennels in Chingford Mount Road.

Ms Cooling brought Millie and three other dogs to Britain from Sri Lanka as part of her charity work with SOS Sri Lanka.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) lifted the restrictions placed on the kennels following an investigation carried out by the department.

A spokesman said: "A full tracing exercise for animals and humans that may have been in contact with the infected dog was carried out and satisfactorily concluded.

"Medical advice and treatment, where appropriate, was given to all people who had been in contact with the dog and was considered to be at risk.

"Even if someone has been bitten by an animal with rabies, prompt post-exposure treatment is highly effective in preventing rabies in humans."

He added tests on the four dogs, who were destroyed, showed they were not in the later stages of rabies and were not, at the time they were killed, infective to other animals at the quarantine.

The restrictions meant that parts of the kennel were sealed off to prevent the spread of infection.