Virgílio Almeida Médico Veterinário Professor, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da Universidade de Lisboa Rabies is a contagious disease caused by a virus capable of infecting all mammals and, therefore, also humans. It is a long-known zoonosis , already documented in ancient Egyptian papyrus, which depict people bitten by dogs with rabies. The unusual name of this disease is due to one of its most frequent clinical presentations - furious rabies - in which animals and people attack others, either of the same or of other species. This intimidating picture makes us think about rabies as tragedy to be avoided at all costs. Rabies vaccination of dogs is a mainstay of rabies control. After vaccines for smallpox and avian cholera, rabies vaccine occupies a place on the podium of vaccinology. The rabies vaccine was the third vaccine to be developed – by Louis Pasteur and his team in 1885 – and was applied to human and animal populations. Epidemiology cycles and species involved Rabies occurs in three epidemiology cycles : sylvatic, rural, and urban. In the sylvatic cycle participate several species, different between countries and continents. In Europe, the main host reservoir for rabies is the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). In the American continent, mainly in South America, the rabies virus is transmitted by the bite of vampire bats (that feed on blood), legendary since the Irish writer Abraham 'Bram' Stoker, wrote in 1897 the novel 'Dracula ', which gave rise to the modern literary myth of the vampire. The dog, a key species in rabies control The dog is the key species in all rabies control programs : It is present in the sylvatic cycle, for example, through hunting dogs and ranger and nature watcher dogs which can met foxes; Sheepdogs, hunting dogs and guard dogs works at the interface with the rural cycle and can met foxes or groups of stray dogs; It moves at the interface with the urban cycle, mainly through risky contacts with stray dogs, but also with dogs adopted or acquired in countries where rabies is endemic, which may have circumvented the rules of international movement of the species. Transmission, progression, and mortality of rabies The transmission of rabies justifies the ancestral fear associated with the bite of a fox, a dog or a blood-eating bat. The virus that causes rabies is present in the saliva of infected animals and people . After being transmitted by a bite, the virus migrates to the nervous system, where it causes fatal destruction if people are not rescued quickly and with the appropriate resources. The progression of the disease , with symptoms like excitability, aggressive behavior, abundant salivation, inability to swallow, convulsions, paralysis, and possible coma and death, is terrible for the families of rabies victims or for the owners of affected animals and aggravates the social impact of this zoonosis. According to the World Health Organization, today 1 person dies of rabies worldwide every 10 minutes. Almost half of these deaths are children and young people under 15 years of age. This is a reality that needs to be changed. How did the rabies virus survive for so many years? The rabies virus has developed over millennia two abilities to perpetuate itself in populations : It became capable of infecting all mammals; Even before infected animals and people show symptoms, their saliva is infectious. Thus, a bite from an apparently healthy dog can lead to the death of the animal or person who was bitten. Having the commitment to vaccinate pets, mainly dogs, against rabies, is thus part of the responsibilities of all pet owners. Rabies is extinct in Portugal, but dog vaccination remains mandatory The reasons are several: Dog mobility has never been as great as it is today. The dog gained family member status. Dogs started to travel with us between countries and continents. Some of the world largest airports now have hotels that offer pet accommodation to safeguard this mobility; Whenever you travel for other countries or simply want to leave your dog at a shelter or hotel for pets in Portugal, you will be required to have an up-to-date rabies vaccine ; Portugal has a considerable population of hunting and working dogs (shepherd dogs and guard dogs, for example) that interact with fauna in protected areas and in rural areas; Evidence is accumulating in Portugal that foxes are approaching suburban areas looking for food in landfills, and there are frequent sightings of foxes inside urban centers, next to rubbish bins. In both scenarios, foxes compete with stray dogs for food and through fights can generate chains of disease transmission; Recently, cases of rabies have been diagnosed in European countries such as France, the Netherlands or Belgium, in dogs from tourists who have adopted the animals in North African countries, where the frequency of canine rabies is high. That is why you must: Vaccinate your dog against rabies. Protect your dog and every one of us . The rabies vaccine continues to save thousands of lives of animals and people every day. Vaccines are very safe and there are already vaccines capable of conferring immunity for more than one year, which reduces the cost of vaccination for families. Do not hesitate, do not forget. Be a One Health agent. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
