On Monday 31 July 2023, Luxembourg's Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development announced that the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) is urging people not to bring animals back to Luxembourg following holidaying abroad.
The issue concerns animals whose health status is unknown, or for which the import documents are not in order, in order not to compromise the health of residents and animals in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Among the major risks is the introduction of rabies, even if Luxembourg has been free of rabies since 2001. This incurable and deadly virus infects both wild and domestic animals and can be transmitted to humans through the saliva of an infected animal. Dogs are the cause of 99% of fatal cases of human rabies. Currently, rabies is present in more than 150 countries, including countries to which Luxembourg residents travel, such as Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Ukraine.
ALVA has also issued a reminder that acquiring an animal must be a well-considered decision, which has advantages and disadvantages. Spontaneous purchases and "pity adoptions" are not an ideal basis for ensuring animal welfare.
