Colombia: While rabies exists, no current epidemic

In Magdalena, Arauca, Chocó, Antioquia, Cesar, Sucre, Cundinamarca, Casanare, Caquetá, Norte de Santander, there are rabid animals, so there is a risk of infection in humans.

While cases of human rabies in Colombia, reported in recent years, not to consider that there is an epidemic in the country, organizations like the National Institute of Health (NIH) are calling on state and municipal authorities and the general population to take the necessary measures to prevent outbreaks of this disease.

According to the INS, since 2000 has been reported to national surveillance system, SIVIGILA, death of 35 Colombians infected with rabies, including the two cases reported this year in Roldadillo. In this population of northern Valle, confirmed the death of a 19 years last June after she was bitten by a cat carrying the virus.

The other woman, according to the Institute, was the girl’s grandmother died. The 74 year old woman died last April and although she was not performed tests to confirm his death from rabies, if they knew he had a signal bite and death associated with death from infection.

According to the director of the National Institute of Health, Juan Gonzalo Lopez, currently there is information on two cases of rabies in foxes Magdalena department, as well as cows and horses in Arauca, Chocó, Antioquia, Cesar, Sucre, Ontario , Casanare, Caquetá, Magdalena and Norte de Santander. Read Article