In the Americas region, PAHO, through PANAFTOSA/VPH-PAHO/WHO, is responsible for coordinating the Regional Program for the Elimination of Human Rabies Transmitted by Dogs, providing technical cooperation to countries since 1983.

Thanks to the efforts of the governments and people of the region, the collaboration between countries and the technical cooperation of PAHO, the Americas have managed to drastically reduce the incidence of human rabies transmitted by dogs by approximately 98%, decreasing from 300 cases in 1983 to 5 cases recorded in 2024, till September.

From 2017 to 2022, the public health sector in the region vaccinated approximately 200 million dogs and 36 million cats for free to prevent and control the spread and transmission of the disease. During this same period, two million people received post-exposure rabies prophylaxis.

Ensuring equitable access to health services and post-exposure prophylaxis for underserved communities not only saves lives but also strengthens national health systems.

Mass canine vaccination is the most effective tool and constitutes the main action for preventing rabies in dogs.

The PAHO Regional Rabies Elimination Program, validated by the Rabies Program Directors in the Americas (REDIPRA), recommends maintaining an 80% vaccination coverage of the canine population as a strategy to interrupt the circulation of the virus in susceptible hosts and prevent cases of human rabies transmitted by dogs. 

This progress is the result of regional mass canine vaccination campaigns, public awareness efforts, and the expansion of the availability of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis to 100% of the population exposed to the virus. 

The achievements of the past 40 years suggest that the goal of eliminating human rabies of canine origin (variants 1 and 2) in the American continent is becoming increasingly attainable.