Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Sweden has been rabies-free for over 100 years, but the movement of pets between countries risks reintroducing the infection, especially through the illegal importation of animals. This could have serious consequences for both animals and humans. Animal health professionals, through their occupation, may be the first to encounter smuggled dogs or cats infected with rabies. However, there are gaps in knowledge about animal health professionals' attitudes and perceptions concerning the handling of suspected illegally imported pets and rabid animals. The study aimed to introduce this area to research by conducting a survey targeting animal health professionals in Sweden. Of the 135 respondents, the majority had experience in handling
suspected illegally imported dogs and cats, and several also had experience with suspected rabies cases. The results highlight that the majority of respondents felt insecure in handling smuggling cases, which constituted a substantial workload for them. The main difficulty identified by respondents was how to report suspected smuggling to the authorities due to uncertainties surrounding GDPR and secrecy legislation. We identified a desire for workplace routines and support from employers, as well as clear guidelines from responsible authorities. The illegal importation of animals is unlikely to stop, and measures to reduce concern among animal health professionals are important, as are routines for increasing the safety at work regarding zoonotic risks.