The European Commission is urgently trying to contact eight people across Europe who may have been infected by a rabid dog in France.
The EU executive has stated that several young people, possibly from the Netherlands and Spain, played with the animal when it was capable of spreading the highly-contagious disease.
The four-month-old dog, which died on 21 August, would have been infectious for three weeks previously, the Eubusiness.com website reports, and there is also concern that at least two other dogs could have been infected.
The dog was reportedly travelling around to festivals in the south-west of the country, and visited Bordeaux as well as other towns in the Dordogne, Gironde, and Lot et Garonne departments. The dog had been legally imported, the EU has stated.
Health Commissioner David Byrne is quoted as saying: “I urge that this information is spread to a maximum. Some people are at risk of dying and we should put all our efforts into saving their lives.”
A spokesman added: “All are at risk if they were bitten, licked or scratched by the infected dog. Rabies is fatal if not treated in time.”
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
