HC Deb 02 March 1976 vol 906 c495W
Mr. Bowden

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to apply the advice of the World Health Authority that the only way to minimise a rabies epidemic is to control the number of foxes by gassing them in their dens.

Mr. Strang

Our aim is to prevent rabies from getting a hold in this country and not to minimise a rabies epidemic as is the case on the Continent. But I agree that in the event of a rabies outbreak in wild life control of the fox population in the area affected would be one of the essential requirements. As foxes are surface-living for the greater part of the year, the opportunities for gassing them are limited and other methods of control would be required.

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