WHO Validates Chile as First South American Country to Eliminate Dog-Transmitted Rabies

Chile has achieved a historic public health milestone by becoming the first South American nation to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies, the World Health Organization announced Monday. This achievement culminates over 50 years of sustained prevention and surveillance efforts by Chilean health authorities. The elimination of canine rabies transmission represents a critical advancement in infectious disease control, as rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. This success demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated vaccination programs, animal control measures, and public health infrastructure. Chile's accomplishment provides a model for other Latin American countries pursuing similar rabies elimination goals.

Originally published on
Medical Xpress
Read full article(opens in new tab)Fetched: September 15, 2026 at 10:00 AM



