Chile eliminates human rabies: a first for South America
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The World Health Organization announced that Chile became the first country in South America to eliminate human rabies transmitted from dogs, after more than five decades of prevention and monitoring efforts.
The last case of dog-to-human rabies transmission in Chile occurred in 1972. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, stated that Chile’s success reflects “decades of commitment to protecting communities from rabies” and demonstrates the impact of sustained investment in public health.
He also noted that Chile’s experience offers lessons for countries working to end human deaths from the preventable disease. Chile achieved this milestone through a long-term strategy that included widespread vaccination campaigns for pets and providing vaccines to people at risk of exposure to the virus. These measures encompassed door-to-door dog vaccination, management of dog populations, and public awareness programs on preventing the disease.
Rabies spreads to humans through the saliva of infected animals, most often through bites, and can also occur if contaminated saliva enters the eyes, nose, or mouth. During a celebration in Santiago, Chile’s Minister of Health, Maya Chomali, praised the “joint efforts” that contributed to this health achievement.
