§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the procedures and criteria applied by his officials when dealing with the release of puppies and kittens born in quarantine; and if he will make a statement. [21166]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 16 December 1997]Puppies and kittens born to the quarantined mother are subject to 15 days' quarantine after separation from the mother providing she is still healthy at the time the puppies or kittens are released. The risk to puppies or kittens born to a quarantined mother is believed to be restricted to transmission of infected saliva after birth. Transmission of the rabies virus in utero is unknown, according to the scientific literature. As the rabies virus is present in the saliva for less than two weeks before clinical signs appear there is no risk to offspring if the mother is clinically healthy a fortnight after separation from the litter.