History of Rabies in Argentina and the First Human Vaccination in Latin America

Argentina is currently in a controlled situation regarding rabies virus transmission, with sporadic human cases, a status achieved, although not always constant, thanks to coordinated political and healthcare measures directed to zoonosis control. For example, the first human vaccination in Latin America occurred with the Pasteur method by Dr. Desiderio Fernando Davel. The implementation of the production and use of the suckling mouse brain-based vaccine in Argentina was again among the first countries to use this new and successful biologic, followed by cell culture-based vaccines. The specter of bat rabies appeared for almost a century to date. The application of different strategies throughout history, for human prevention, as well as canine and bovine paralytic rabies control and surveillance programs, resulted in major accomplishments for veterinary and public health in the twenty-first century.