Chile Becomes First South American Country Validated by WHO for Eliminating Dog-Transmitted Rabies.
SANTIAGO, Chile:
Chile has become the first country in South America to receive World Health Organization (WHO) validation for eliminating dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem, marking more than five decades of sustained efforts to prevent human transmission of the deadly but preventable disease.
The recognition confirms that Chile has not only maintained the absence of human rabies transmitted by dogs for decades but also has the surveillance, vaccination, laboratory and response systems needed to prevent the disease from returning.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Chile, describing the achievement as the result of decades of commitment to protecting communities from rabies. He said Chile’s experience demonstrates the impact of sustained investment in public health and offers lessons to countries seeking to eliminate preventable human deaths from rabies.
More than 50 years without a human case from dogs
Rabies is a viral disease that is almost always fatal once clinical symptoms develop. However, human rabies transmitted by dogs can be prevented through effective vaccination, surveillance and prompt access to post-exposure prophylaxis.
Chile’s last reported case of human rabies transmitted by a dog occurred in 1972.
Since then, the country has maintained a national prevention and control programme combining animal vaccination, disease surveillance, laboratory testing and access to treatment for people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Decades of vaccination and surveillance
Chile’s strategy has included mass vaccination campaigns for dogs and cats, including free vaccination services, as well as door-to-door campaigns and measures aimed at managing dog populations.
The country has also invested in community education and awareness programmes to help people understand the risks of rabies and the importance of seeking medical care after potential exposure.
Its National Rabies Prevention and Control Programme includes:
Free mass vaccination campaigns for dogs and cats.
Epidemiological surveillance of rabies.
Stronger laboratory diagnostic capacity.
Monitoring of rabies virus circulation in animals.
Timely access to post-exposure prophylaxis for people at risk.
Community-based surveillance and awareness activities.
Preventive vaccination measures in higher-risk border areas.
These measures have helped Chile maintain control over dog-mediated rabies while continuing to monitor the possibility of reintroduction.
Rigorous WHO validation process
The WHO validation was based on more than simply the absence of human cases.
Chile submitted a technical dossier demonstrating compliance with internationally established validation criteria. The documentation included evidence of sustained disease control as well as the country’s ability to detect, investigate and respond to potential rabies cases.
The dossier was assessed by an independent international group of experts convened by PANAFTOSA/PAHO/WHO, which confirmed that Chile had met the required standards.
The process examined the country’s surveillance, laboratory, vaccination and response capacities, ensuring that the achievement could be sustained rather than representing a temporary interruption in transmission.
Regional cooperation played a key role
WHO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said Chile’s achievement reflects decades of coordinated efforts across the Americas.
Dr Jarbas Barbosa, WHO Regional Director for the Americas and Director of PAHO, said Chile’s experience demonstrates how vaccination, surveillance and access to care can work together when countries maintain long-term investment and cooperation across sectors.
Across the Americas, human cases of dog-mediated rabies have fallen by more than 98% since 1983, according to WHO and PAHO.
Chile’s validation therefore contributes to the region’s broader effort to eliminate dog-transmitted human rabies.
Part of the Americas’ 2030 disease elimination effort
Chile’s achievement supports the objectives of PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, which seeks to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.
The progress in the Americas contrasts with the global situation. Dog-transmitted rabies continues to cause tens of thousands of deaths every year, particularly in parts of Asia and Africa.
Because rabies is preventable, health authorities emphasize that vaccination of dogs, effective surveillance and rapid access to post-exposure treatment remain critical tools for reducing deaths.
Chile stresses the role of communities
Chile’s Health Minister, Dr May Chomalí, said the validation represents the result of public policies and work carried out over many years, including pet vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis for people exposed to rabies.
She also highlighted the role of municipalities, zoonosis teams and communities in maintaining the country’s progress.
The achievement demonstrates that eliminating dog-transmitted rabies requires more than a single health intervention. Continued vaccination, monitoring, laboratory capacity, public awareness and rapid medical response are all necessary to prevent the disease from re-emerging.
One Health approach highlighted
Chile’s success also illustrates the importance of the One Health approach, which recognizes the close links between human, animal and environmental health.
Because rabies is transmitted between animals and people, controlling the disease requires cooperation between veterinary services, public health authorities, laboratories, local governments and communities.
WHO said Chile’s experience demonstrates that sustained investment in prevention and surveillance can bring a deadly disease to the point of elimination — while continued vigilance remains essential to preserve those gains.
