The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has noted comments via social media in regards to a Jamaican student returning with a cat from the Ukraine in light of the on-going crisis in that country. 

The Veterinary Services Division has advised that on February 28, 2022, it received an application for an import permit for the importation of a cat from the Ukraine. This request was reviewed, not only against the background of the extraordinary humanitarian crisis existing in the Ukraine, but with due consideration given to the animal disease status of that country, particularly as it relates to rabies.

In relation to the international movement of pets, rabies remains a disease of major international importance, with developing countries being particularly affected. Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease that causes progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Clinically, rabies has two forms:

                   - Furious rabies (characterized by hyperactivity and hallucinations).

                   - Paralytic rabies (characterized by paralysis and coma).

Based on data from the World Health Organization, it is estimated that more than 59,000 human deaths occur worldwide each year due to rabies virus, with bites by infected dogs being the principal cause of documented human cases. It is important to note that Jamaica is historically free of rabies and every effort is being made to maintain this status.

The Ministry of Agriculture notes that in the last half of 2020, the Ukraine reported 551 cases of rabies, of which there were 392 cases in domestic animals and 144 cases in wild animals. Additionally, in the first half of 2021, there were a total of 501 cases of rabies in the Ukraine, of which 263 were cases in domestic animals and 94 cases in wild animals. In this regard, the Ukraine can be categorized as a country, in which rabies is not controlled and is therefore high risk.

The importation of dogs and cats into Jamaica from approved countries is governed by the Animals Diseases and Importation Act, 1948 and the Animals Diseases (Importation) Control (Amendment) Regulations, 2017. These laws are geared towards protecting Jamaica against risks that may arise from exotic diseases and pests entering, establishing and spreading in the island.

In regards to the movement of dogs and cats from a high-risk country to a rabies-free country, most rabies-free countries such as Australia and New Zealand do not allow the entry of animals from high-risk countries. In cases where such movement is considered, such pets must spend at least six months or more in a low-risk country before being allowed entry into a rabies-free country.

For dogs and cats resident in countries that are not approved to export to Jamaica, such animals may only be imported via an approved country, after meeting the import requirements of that country and the necessary residency requirements (six months residency in an approved country generally applies) to be eligible for export to Jamaica.

In general, rabies-free countries require that dogs and cats from rabies-affected countries should satisfy the following pre-export requirements:

•     Be individually identified by microchip

•     Be resident for a continuous period of at least six months in an approved country

•     Be vaccinated against the rabies virus with an approved inactivated vaccine and

•     Have achieved a post-vaccination rabies virus neutralising antibody titre of at least 0.5 IU/mL between three months to 12 months before export.

 In addition to rabies-specific requirements for dogs and cats, additional serology and parasite treatments are conducted to minimise the risk of entry of other pests and diseases of concern.

For further information, please feel free to contact the Permit Unit at the Veterinary Services Division at vsdpermits@moa.gov.jm or vsdpermits@gmail.com or by telephone at (876) 977 2489; (876) 977 2492. ​ 

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