The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Chile as the first country in South America to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem, following more than five decades without a reported human case linked to dogs.

The achievement reflects sustained national efforts focused on animal vaccination, disease surveillance, laboratory capacity and timely access to post-exposure prophylaxis for people exposed to the rabies virus.

“I congratulate the government and people of Chile on this historic achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This validation reflects decades of commitment to protecting communities from rabies and demonstrates the impact of sustained investment in public health. Chile’s success offers valuable lessons for countries working to end human deaths from this preventable disease.”

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Chile has also strengthened risk assessment and surveillance in areas considered vulnerable to reintroduction, including border regions.

“Chile’s achievement is a testament to what sustained regional cooperation can accomplish when countries invest in vaccination, surveillance and access to care,” said Dr Jarbas Barbosa, WHO Regional Director for the Americas and Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). “It shows that eliminating dog-transmitted rabies is not only possible, but achievable and sustainable when countries work across sectors and maintain the systems needed to protect people and animals.”

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The validation followed a technical review of the country’s disease-control systems by an independent international expert group convened through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Chile’s progress adds to wider regional efforts, with dog-mediated human rabies cases across the Americas falling by more than 98% since 1983.