Chile becomes first South American nation to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies

Chile has been validated by the World Health Organization as the first country in South America to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies in humans, a milestone that follows more than fifty years of sustained public health efforts. The last reported case of the disease passing from a dog to a person in the country occurred in 1972.

Announcing the development on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the achievement as the product of long-term commitment. He said it demonstrated the impact of continued investment in public health and offered lessons for other countries seeking to end human deaths from a disease that is entirely preventable.

Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, most often via a bite, though infection can also occur if saliva reaches the eyes, nose or mouth. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. It can, however, be prevented through vaccination, effective surveillance and timely access to post-exposure treatment.

Chile's strategy has centred on prevention and monitoring. It has included widespread vaccination of pets and of people who may have been exposed to the virus. These measures were supported by door-to-door dog vaccination campaigns, steps to manage the dog population, and community awareness and education programmes.

Speaking in Santiago, Chilean Health Minister May Chomali credited joint efforts across communities and municipalities for the result. She said the national policy on rabies eradication had delivered the outcome the country sought, and noted that local bodies are where education, vaccination and pet control are actually carried out.

Pan American Health Organization Director Jarbas Barbosa also welcomed the validation, saying Chile had shown what can be achieved when countries invest in vaccination, surveillance and access to care.

Across the Americas, human cases of dog-transmitted rabies have fallen by more than 98 per cent since 1983, and only a handful are now reported each year. That regional progress stands in contrast to the global picture, where the virus still kills nearly 60,000 people annually, most of them after dog bites.