This public health success, culminating in recognition by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, has been based on comprehensive and lasting strategies. However, despite this milestone, the threat of rabies persists, especially in wild animals, requiring constant vigilance and a proactive approach.
A decades-long path to elimination. Mexico’s recognition as a country free of human rabies transmitted by dogs was no coincidence.
It was the result of a combined strategy of mass rabies vaccination for companion animals, an effective epidemiological surveillance system, and community awareness campaigns. These coordinated efforts laid the groundwork for a dramatic reduction in cases, making the disease a rarity.
Despite these achievements, the current challenge is to remain vigilant. Rabies still circulates in wildlife, with cases reported in species such as bats and skunks, and on rare occasions it can be transmitted to humans.
A recent example is the case in Zacatecas, where a person was infected by a wild animal, underscoring the importance of strengthening prevention campaigns and the “One Health” approach, which considers the health of humans, animals, and the environment as interconnected.
Alejandro Sánchez, Technical Manager of the Companion Animal Unit at MSD Animal Health in Mexico, highlights the company’s commitment to this fight. “Communities that experience continuous rabies outbreaks often lack essential resources and vaccines,” he noted, reinforcing the need for prevention through rabies vaccination.
Prevention Guide: Signs of Rabies and What to Do
Given the persistence of rabies in wildlife, it is essential that the public is informed. MSD Animal Health in Mexico provides a guide to recognize the signs of the disease in dogs and the protocol to follow.
Signs of Rabies in Dogs:
Initial Phase: Behavioral changes such as irritability, lethargy, lack of appetite, or fever.
Excitatory Phase: Aggressive behavior and hyperactivity, unexplained biting, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, and disorientation.
Paralytic Phase: Progressive paralysis, especially in the neck and jaw, generalized weakness, leading to coma and death.
Protocol in case of suspicion:
Isolate the animal: Wear gloves and a mask to avoid direct contact with pets and people.
Contact animal health authorities: Experts will manage the situation and quarantine domestic pets for 10 days.
Source: msn
