Despite one recent case of rabies occurring in an imported dog in a quarantine kennel, the UK retains its rabies free status.
The LRF Community Risk Registers in both Cumbria and Lancashire identified a need to review and update the multi-agency rabies contingency plans. To begin the process of review it was decided to arrange an awareness day and table top exercise to help gauge and increase the current level of understanding among the multi-agency partners.
Several agencies are involved in different aspects of rabies prevention, including the Animal Health (AH), the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Local Authorities (LA) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). A cross border multi agency exercise management team was formed to develop and deliver the event.
The main aims of the event were to:
- re-invigorate the (classical) rabies emergency planning process
prompting a revision/review of the existing arrangements,
- a raising of the awareness of the potential for a rabies incident,
- increase the participants’ awareness of the role and actions of the
various agencies involved during a rabies incident in Cumbria and
Lancashire,
- make available an opportunity to discuss current and potential
arrangements through a table top exercise identifying amendments to
arrangements,
- identify the control, co-ordination and communications issues
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