you Recent records of human rabies in northern Minas Promote the importance of primary health care, even in the case of diseases that have been considered, in practice, to be under control. in Minas Gerais, The last recorded case among people was ten years agoin a rural product attacked by bats in Rio Casca, in the Zona da Mata.

Advances in pet vaccination have been crucial to disease control. Since 1983, when the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) launched the Regional Rabies Elimination Program, the number of human cases in the Americas has fallen from 300 to just six last year.

In Brazil, since 2010, there have been only 39 records. The two children from Bertopolis (north of Minas) were the only two events across the country this year until last Wednesday.

In the region, 54 municipalities have received directives to strengthen monitoring of animals suspected of having rabies and to intensify monitoring through laboratory testing. Enhanced care for the six municipalities that did not reach 50% coverage in the last vaccination campaign for pet dogs and cats. More attention is being directed toward preventing bat attacks – the main cause of the last two outbreaks in animals, in 2017 and 2018.

This is why it is so important to encourage the primary health care service, as it promotes public education about rabies prevention and symptoms in animals and humans, and demonstrates the importance of vaccinating dogs and cats to ensure disease control and first calls are available. An appreciation of public health strengthens the first and main barrier around diseases such as rabies.