22/06/2026
Dear Athletes! Please read this is very important information for upcoming Championships.
IFSS Veterinary Team – Official Statement
Leptospirosis Vaccination Guidance
Following internal discussions and review of current veterinary evidence, the IFSS Veterinary Team would like to provide an update regarding leptospirosis vaccination for upcoming IFSS Championships.
Leptospirosis is a serious zoonotic disease affecting both dogs and humans, with potential consequences including kidney and liver damage, reduced performance, and in severe cases, death.
Given the nature of IFSS events—bringing together dogs from various regions and environments where exposure risk can vary—the risk of transmission cannot be ignored (See attached pdf document).
Vaccination remains one of the most effective measures to reduce both the risk and severity of disease, and contributes significantly to animal welfare, public health, and overall event biosecurity (See attached document).
Recommendation
After careful consideration, the IFSS Veterinary Team strongly recommends that all participating dogs are vaccinated against leptospirosis, preferably using modern L4 vaccines providing broader protection.
Status for Upcoming Championships
At this stage, leptospirosis vaccination will not be mandatory for the following events:
• European Championship / European Masters (ECh/EM) – Gävle, Sweden 2026
• Latin American Championship (LAC) – Mexico 2026
• On-Snow World Championship (WCh/WM) – Jämijärvi/Kontiolahti, Finland 2027
• On-Snow Long Distance World Championship – Finnmarksløpet 2027
Final Note
While not currently mandatory, vaccination is strongly encouraged as a responsible preventive measure to protect dogs, participants, and the wider sleddog community, and to support the safe conduct of international competitions.
IFSS Vet Team