“Unfortunately we have received the positive result of our fifth case of rabies, it is a seven-month-old dog, which has owners,” the official said.

During the interview to the state-owned Bolivia TV, the municipal official deplored that the animal was not immunized against hydrophobia or rabies, a transmissible infectious disease that attacks the nervous system.

The disease is caused by a virus that causes acute encephalitis, whose damage can be lethal.

It was reported that the sick puppy had contact with three people, two of them are already concluding their prophylaxis treatment and a third one is in the process.

Sandi reiterated that in view of this situation, a “focus control” was activated and the situation of the dogs in the neighborhood of Japón, in District Five, is being investigated.

She pointed out that the health sector remains expectant for the results, which will be available in the next hours. According to official statistics, 99 percent of canine rabies cases are caused by unvaccinated dogs, 90 percent of which are under one year old and nine out of 100 are adults.

Bolivia reported an increase in this type of contagion in dogs, and one of a girl who, bitten by an infected dog, died in the municipality of Viacha, in the department of La Paz, in the first eight months of 2023.

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