Pup from Iraq Found to have had Rabies

Apparently a puppy contaminated with Rabies accidentally made it into the United States as part of an effort to bring adopted pets from Iraq to soldiers who bonded with them while on duty.

This effort was pulled together by a group of good Samaritans who wanted to help rescue abandoned dogs in Iraq and help reunite them with the soldiers who took them in while in the country.

Many American soldiers bond with the strays that live on the outskirts of small town.  However, they are not allowed to bring the animals home with them.  It often takes thousands of dollars and several months in quarantine to bring one animal into the country. 

The mission is called, Operation Baghdad Pups, and was founded by the Society for the Prevention of Creulty to animals.

The deadly case of rabies made it through normal quarantines becuase of a simple slip up in following normal regulations.  The group has plenty of experience in bringing these strays to the states, having brought animals to the country since 2007.

24 dogs and 2 cats were brought into the states on June 5th to the Newark Liberty International Airport.  The animals were quarantined as usual, however, the rabies ridden puppy was hospitalized three days later.  The 11 month old Black Labrador named Crusader showed signs of an illness with fever, diarrhea, wobbly gait, agitation and crying.

The next day he had to be euthanized, but his remains wouldn't be analyzed for rabies until June 18th.

All the other animals in the group had already been released from quarantine and sent to their respective families.  Luckily, all the animals have been placed back in quarintine and so far show no signs of infection.  They'll be in quarintine for an additional six months.  Those people exposed to the animals are also being urged to get preventative rabies treatments, just in case. 

From here on out the SPCA will be required to present proof that each animals in the Operation Baghdad Pups shipments has been vaccinated for rabies at least thirty days prior to arrival in the United States.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/03/nyregion/03rabies.html?ref=nyregion