Health
Canine rabies eliminated in U.S.
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 1, 2007
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formally declared that the type of rabies found in dogs in this country has been eliminated. The CDC made the announcement at a World Rabies Day initiative held Sept. 7.
"The elimination of canine rabies in the United States represents one of the major public health success stories in the last 50 years," said Charles Rupprecht, VMD, PhD, chief of the CDC Rabies Program. "However, there is still much work to be done to prevent and control rabies globally."
Rabies control was achieved in the U.S. through dog vaccinations and licensing and stray dog control, said the CDC. But people must keep vaccinating their pets, Dr. Rupprecht said, since rabies remains a threat from infections transmitted by wildlife.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/10/01/hlbf1001.htm.
