Rabies is a deadly virus transmitted through the bite of infected animals. Once contracted, rabies is almost invariably fatal. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), rabies has historically posed a significant threat to public health. However, a regional agreement in 1983 to combat rabies marked a turning point.
Mass Vaccination Campaigns Drive Success
The 1983 agreement led to widespread vaccination campaigns across the LAC region. These campaigns proved highly effective, with surveys indicating that over 80% of dogs were vaccinated.
A 2013 research paper titled “Progress towards eliminating canine rabies: policies and perspectives from Latin America and the Caribbean” highlighted the positive impact of these efforts. The authors pointed to several countries – Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, and Uruguay – that had already gone many years without reported rabies cases. They also noted progress in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, where large areas had been rabies-free for several years. The researchers predicted that within a few years, several LAC countries would be free of dog-mediated human rabies and canine rabies altogether.
Ten Years Later: The Progress Continues
Fast forward to 2024, and the researchers’ predictions have largely come true. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows a significant number of LAC countries are now rabies-free.
No dog-mediated human rabies and no dog rabies:
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay
All but one of the countries highlighted in the 2013 study – Colombia – have now achieved rabies-free status. Notably, Argentina has also achieved rabies-free status, despite ongoing challenges in certain areas back in 2013.
Challenges Remain
The 2013 research also highlighted areas where dog-to-dog and dog-to-human transmission remained a concern. These areas included Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, northeast Brazil (Maranhão State), and border regions of several countries. Ten years on, the challenges remain.
No dog-mediated human rabies but dog rabies limited to a few areas:
Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
Sporadic dog-mediated human rabies but dog rabies limited to a few areas:
Peru
Dog-mediated human rabies present:
Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Venezuela
While some progress has been made, countries like Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Venezuela continue to battle dog-mediated human rabies. Data from 2022 shows these ongoing struggles. Tragically, rabies deaths in humans were reported in Bolivia (1), Brazil (5), Haiti (1), and Mexico (4).
The Road to Eradication
Yellow – No dog-mediated human rabies but dog rabies limited to a few areas; Orange – Sporadic dog-mediated human rabies but dog rabies limited to a few areas;
Red – Dog-mediated human rabies present.
(Source: WHO, accessed 2024/07/21)
As highlighted ten years ago, the key lies in continued vigilance and targeted vaccination efforts. The researchers identified a correlation between high poverty, free-roaming dog populations, and rabies prevalence. Therefore, ensuring free and accessible mass vaccination campaigns in these regions, coupled with well-publicized promotion efforts, remains crucial for achieving a rabies-free future. Nevertheless, the progress made in Latin America and the Caribbean offers a beacon of hope for complete rabies elimination around the world.
Related:
Eliminating Rabies: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean