Vets have warned that Ireland has been exposed to an increased rabies risk as a result of a change in EU regulations governing the movement of cats and dogs.

According to Alan Rossiter of Veterinary Ireland, the recent case of rabies in the Netherlands in pups legally imported from Bulgaria demonstrated that the new rules failed to detect and prevent rabies moving from one EU state to another.

"The risk of rabies spreading across borders still exists, even when the new import rules are adhered to," he said.

Alan Rossiter said it was likely that the pups were exposed to rabies before they were vaccinated in Bulgaria, but due to the long incubation period they were not yet showing any signs of disease at the time of vaccination

"Vaccination cannot protect an animal that has already been exposed to a disease - it can only protect against future exposure."

Ireland is one of a small number of of EU countries that has traditionally been rabies-free. There have been no indigenous rabies cases reported in Ireland since the end of the 19th century.

Veterinary Ireland says up to last year, the rules stipulated that dogs and cats had to essentially wait almost seven months after rabies vaccination before they could travel into Ireland from a state where they may have been exposed to rabies.

They also had to have a blood test carried out to make sure the rabies jab was effective.

"The new rules only stipulate that dogs and cats have to be vaccinated against rabies just three weeks before they can move from any member state to another. After this three week wait, they can move unhindered," Mr. Rossiter said.

The incubation period of rabies - the period between getting infected and first showing symptoms - can be up to six months or longer.

"It is therefore very possible that an animal could have already been infected with rabies before it is vaccinated, and then only show symptoms several weeks to months later, long after it has arrived into its new country."

Veterinary Ireland has urged the Government to continue to take all steps possible to protect our rabies-free status, and to lobby for a revision of EU per movement rules.

Once an infected human victim shows signs of rabies, they have practically no chance of recovery.

Death from rabies can be slow and agonising- 55,000 people worldwide die from rabies every year, mostly children in developing countries.

Find out more about rabies here