Un sitio web oficial .pr.gov pertenece a una organización oficial del Gobierno de Puerto Rico.
Los sitios web seguros .pr.gov usan HTTPS, lo que significa que usted se conectó de forma segura a un sitio web.
Know the importance of preventing the spread of rabies.
Join us and register your shelter or veterinary clinic. Your information will help us to control animals and eradicate diseases. See the entities that have registered
Recent educationRabies Alert
The Puerto Rico Department of Health has issued a rabies alert.
We want to inform the community about a confirmed case of rabies in the area described below. This poses a public health risk, so it is crucial to take preventive measures to protect yourself, your pets, and community members. To learn about the rabies virus and how to prevent it, you can find more information on this page.
Specie: Mongoose
Identified date: August 26, 2024
Municipality: Ponce
Location:Urbanización Las Delicias en Ponce
Nearby areas:Comunidad Punto Diamante, Comunidad Tallaboa Alta, Barrio Pueblo, Parcelas Nueva Vida, Comunidad El Tuque, Sector Amalia Marín, Comunidad Cuevas
Learn more about rabies
What is rabies?
It is a disease caused by a virus that affects mammalian animals and humans
How is it transmitted?
Rabies is transmitted mainly through animal bites, where it is present in saliva.
What does it affect?
In mammals, it spreads through the nervous system and if this spread is not stopped it will cause the death of the victim.
What are the symptoms?
Some of the common symptoms in mammals are aggressiveness, brain dysfunction, seizures, disorientation and hydrophobia (fear of water). Once symptoms begin, the disease is fatal.
What to do in case of a bite?
Washing the affected area
A person who has been bitten by an animal should wash the wound with plenty of soap and water, allowing the wound to penetrate deeply.
Go to the nearest health center
You should then go to the nearest health center or to a private physician who will determine what should be done.
Report the incident
Ensure that the health professional treating the bite makes a report and submits it to the Health Department within 24 hours.
The Health Department recommends:
The rabies virus is transmitted through bites or contamination of open wounds with saliva from infected animals.
-
All pets must have their rabies vaccinations up to date, rabies is preventable if the animals are vaccinated before exposure. Due to the endemic rabies virus in PR the recommendation is that pets should be vaccinated annually.
-
Avoid contact with wild animals, especially mongooses. Be alert to free-ranging animals behaving erratically. Coming into contact with a mongoose is considered erratic behavior and an indication of rabies virus infection.
-
Teach your children not to handle unfamiliar animals, whether domestic or wild, even if they seem friendly.
-
Supervise your animals directly so that they do not have contact with other wild animals. Be alert for mongoose contact with your pets.
-
If your pet has been bitten by another real or wild animal, take it to a veterinarian immediately and contact the Regional Environmental Health Office of the Health Department in your area.
-
If you or someone in your family has been bitten or attacked by an animal, wash the wounds immediately with soap and water, present the wound for medical attention, and make sure your medical provider reports to the Health Department within 24 hours.
Prevention
Rabies in humans can be prevented if treatment is received early after exposure and before symptoms of the disease develop.
Alerts
The alerts do not limit the possibility of contagion of our pets to this area, because the entire island of PR is endemic for this virus. Therefore, it is important that all pets are vaccinated against rabies and avoid all contact with wild animals, especially mongooses.
More information
For more information on rabies visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://cdc.gov/rabies/ or contact the Department of Health.
