Federal officials are expected to close Canada’s borders Wednesday to commercial dogs from over 100 countries that are at a high risk for canine rabies.

The ban includes dogs being put up for sale or adoption.

While some animal advocates and rescuers oppose the policy, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association says it’s necessary to protect people and dogs from a deadly disease.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says Canada currently has no active cases of dog rabies, which is caused by a different variant of the virus than the one that transfers throughout wildlife such as foxes and raccoons.

The agency says rabies is almost 100 per cent preventable with proper vaccination. However, the disease is over 99 per cent fatal for humans and dogs once they begin to develop symptoms.

Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice Canada, says the agency should have chosen less strict measures, such as antibody testing to confirm vaccination.

BREAKING: Animal Justice, @SoiDogCanada, & Rescue Dogs Advocacy Coalition have filed a regulatory complaint with the Complaints & Appeals Office of the CFIA over a dangerous new policy BANNING the import of rescued dogs from 100+ countries 🐶 #CFIAdogbanhttps://t.co/1HAYjSXaRx

— Animal Justice (@AnimalJustice) September 27, 2022

But Louis Kwantes, former president of Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, says he thinks the ban is needed considering the risks canine rabies pose to humans and dogs.

The CFIA says dog rabies kills 59,000 people every year in the countries impacted by the ban, including Afghanistan, Ukraine and mainland China.