Chile becomes first South American country validated by WHO for eliminating dog-transmitted rabies

Chile has become the first country in South America to be validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem, the agency announced on September 14, 2026.¹ The milestone reflects more than 5 decades without a human case of the disease; the country's last human rabies case occurred in 1972.¹

"This validation reflects decades of commitment to protecting communities from rabies and demonstrates the impact of sustained investment in public health," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, WHO director-general, in the announcement.¹

Building a rabies-free Chile

According to WHO, Chile's success grew out of sustained, multipronged efforts: door-to-door dog vaccination campaigns, targeted dog population management, community education, and timely access to postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for people potentially exposed to the virus.¹

"It shows that eliminating dog-transmitted rabies is not only possible, but achievable and sustainable when countries work across sectors," said Jarbas Barbosa, MD, MPH, PhD, WHO regional director for the Americas.¹

Chile's minister of health, May Chomalí, MD, credited local partners. "This achievement would not have been possible without the joint efforts of municipalities, their zoonosis teams, and communities," she said.¹

What validation requires

Validation is WHO's formal acknowledgment that a country has brought a disease below the threshold at which it is considered a public health problem. To earn it, a country must demonstrate sustained interruption of dog-mediated rabies transmission and no human deaths from the disease for at least 2 years, along with robust systems for surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, dog vaccination, and access to PEP.¹ An independent expert group reviewed Chile's technical dossier against internationally established requirements before WHO granted validation.¹

The recognition marks Chile's second neglected tropical disease elimination milestone this year. Earlier in 2026, the country became the first in the Americas to be verified by WHO for eliminating leprosy.¹

Regional progress, global gaps

Chile's achievement builds on broader gains across the region. The Americas have reduced dog-mediated rabies cases by more than 98% since 1983, according to WHO.¹

Elsewhere, the disease remains a serious threat. Dog-transmitted rabies still causes tens of thousands of human deaths each year, predominantly in Asia and Africa.¹ Dog bites and scratches cause 99% of human rabies cases, and mass dog vaccination is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies, according to WHO.²

WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (formerly OIE) published Zero by 30, a global strategic plan to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.³ The plan calls for vaccinating dogs to prevent the disease at its source and providing lifesaving treatment to people after bites, and it describes rabies elimination as a model for One Health collaboration.³

Because rabies is fatal in 100% of cases once the virus infects the central nervous system and clinical symptoms appear, prevention at the animal source is essential.² Chile's validation highlights the central role of veterinary professionals in protecting public health. Routine canine rabies vaccination, dog population management, and client education on bite prevention and exposure reporting are core components of the strategy WHO credits for Chile's success.¹ The country's experience also shows that these gains depend on long-term investment and coordination among municipal zoonosis teams, health ministries, and the communities they serve.

Reference

1. Chile becomes first country in South America validated for eliminating dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem. News release. World Health Organization. September 14, 2026. Accessed September 16, 2026. https://www.who.int/news/item/14-09-2026-chile-becomes-first-country-in-south-america-validated-for-eliminating-dog-transmitted-rabies-as-a-public-health-problem
2. Rabies. Fact sheet. World Health Organization. Updated June 5, 2024. Accessed September 16, 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies
3. World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Organization for Animal Health. Zero by 30: The Global Strategic Plan to End Human Deaths From Dog-Mediated Rabies by 2030. World Health Organization; June 3, 2018. Accessed September 16, 2026. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241513838