Chile has made history as the first country in South America to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies in humans, a significant public health achievement endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The last recorded case of rabies transmitted by dogs to humans in Chile occurred in 1972, showcasing over fifty years of dedicated prevention and surveillance efforts.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus credited Chile’s success to long-term investments in public health, underscoring that the country serves as a model for others striving to eradicate this preventable disease. Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, primarily through bites, and is nearly always fatal without prompt treatment.
Chile’s public health strategy included widespread pet vaccination campaigns, community education, and specific measures to manage the dog population. Health Minister May Chomali celebrated this milestone, acknowledging the collective efforts at community levels that contributed to this success.
The Pan American Health Organization also commended Chile’s achievement, highlighting the drastic decline—over 98%—in human rabies cases in the Americas since 1983, although an estimated 60,000 people still die from the virus annually worldwide, primarily due to dog bites.
