Chile eliminates dog-transmitted rabies in first for South America
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Chile became the first country in South America to eliminate rabies transmitted by dogs, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The last recorded case of dog-to-human rabies transmission in Chile occurred in 1972. This achievement followed over 50 years of preventative measures and surveillance, including pet vaccination and protection for people potentially exposed to the virus. The WHO noted that Chilean authorities implemented door-to-door dog vaccinations, population management of dogs, and community awareness campaigns.
Chile’s Minister of Health, May Chomali, stated that public policy aimed at eradicating rabies delivered the desired results for both the community and the country. She also emphasized the role of local communities and municipalities in education, vaccination, and pet control. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the value of long-term investment in public health, noting that Chile’s success can serve as an important lesson for countries striving to stop deaths caused by this preventable disease.
Throughout the Americas, cases of dog-transmitted rabies have decreased by over 98 percent since 1983, though the WHO estimates rabies still causes nearly 60,000 deaths globally each year.
