It’s a sad coincidence: just three days before World Rabies Day, a 25-year-old man has died from rabies in Perpignan, France. The patient, an Algerian national, had been hospitalised a week earlier with symptoms compatible with rabies (hydrophobia, convulsions). Results of the diagnostic tests showed the cause was a canine lyssavirus of Moroccan origin. Health care staff has received post-exposure prophylaxis.
Cause of infection not known
The cause of infection has not yet been established. However, the person had been travelling in different African countries in 2024, but also in Spain and France. The patient was said to have scars on his back, that were ‘likely due to a bite wound.’ While a bite from an infected dog is the most likely scenario, no suspect contact animal has been identified in France. Authorities have urged vets to stay vigilant.
Vets, ‘the guardians of One Health’
In a reaction to the death, Volker Moser (UEVP President) commented on the crucial role of vets in safeguarding public health: ‘Veterinarians are the true guardians of One Health. We are on the frontline of zoonotic and emerging diseases. With increasing global travel and pet movements, preparedness and collaboration are key to preventing tragic cases like this.’
Veterinary preparedness
This is echoed in the FVE position paper on the veterinary profession to pandemic preparedness. On the occasion of World Rabies Day, the FVE furthermore observed that rabies is a neglected zoonosis, calling for governments and international stakeholders to invest in better surveillance, control and vaccination campaigns.
Importation: the main risk factor
In rabies-free countries, the main risk of rabies is importation, with people contracting the disease abroad or animals entering the country without being vaccinated. In 2015, an unvaccinated puppy was infected during its stay in Algeria and developed clinical signs after its return to France. The suspicion of the veterinarian and rapid intervention allowed prophylactic post-exposure treatment of all in-contact people, mainly children who had played with the puppy.
(photo ©Simone Gatdula/Pixabay)