Spain faces a significant rabies risk as vaccination coverage in dogs remains low. This assessment comes from a Rabies Epidemiological Study conducted with MSD Animal Health, in collaboration with the Institute of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases of the Ynmun Biomedicine Group, and the Animal Health Department at the University of Córdoba. The study highlights gaps in vaccination that could allow the virus to persist in animal populations and threaten human health.
Every year on September 28, Rabies Fight Day marks a global push coordinated by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The event aims to raise awareness about this deadly zoonosis and to emphasize the crucial role of vaccination in preventing transmission to people and animals alike.
Rabies affects more than 150 countries, and WHO data indicate it causes about 60,000 deaths annually. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) recommends that in high-risk areas, at least 70 percent of dogs be vaccinated to drive human cases toward zero. Maintaining high vaccination coverage is essential to protect communities and reduce the burden of the disease.
Rabies carries a mortality rate of nearly 99 percent in humans once clinical symptoms appear, making it a disease of ongoing concern worldwide. The virus continues to emerge in new variants, which can expand the number of reservoirs and complicate control efforts.
As one expert notes, viruses cross borders, and a vaccination rate below 70 percent undermines local herd immunity and has ripple effects across the country. This perspective comes from the Rabies Epidemiological Study team, which includes the director of the Institute of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases and the international coordinator of ZEIG (Group of Experts in Zoonoses and Emerging Infections). The message is clear: high community protection begins with strong vaccination effort at the local level, yet it also benefits national public health outcomes. [Citation: ZEIG and Ynmun Biomedicine Group, Rabies Epidemiological Study]
WHO guidance from July 25, 1996, states that Spain should not halt vaccination of dogs and cats. In recent years, however, vaccination frequency has declined. Coverage in 2019, 2020, and 2021 stood at approximately 11.49 percent, 11.80 percent, and 11.51 percent, respectively, signaling a need for renewed emphasis on preventive measures. [Citation: WHO guidelines]
Localized cases have appeared sporadically in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Experts attribute these occurrences to proximity to endemic areas and the movement of unvaccinated animals that come into contact with locally vaccinated dogs. The situation was further amplified by the arrival of pets in 2022 with refugees from Ukraine, a country where rabies remains endemic, which raised concerns among organizations such as the Barcelona Official College of Veterinarians (COVB).
In Spain, responsibility for vaccination strategies lies with the autonomous communities. Vaccination is mandatory across most regions, with Galicia, the Basque Country, and Catalonia adopting unique approaches. In Asturias, mandatory vaccination applies to potentially dangerous dogs. This decentralized framework means local decisions significantly influence overall rabies control and the protection of both animal and human populations.