The National Animal Health Service (SENASA) detected the first case of paralytic bovine rabies in 2018 on a farm located in Corredores.
The event occurred in Guayabal de Canoas where five cattle died because of this disease, that has vampire bats as the most important vector for transmission.
In order to protect the health of the inhabitants and animals, SENASA established sanitary and quarantine measures in the affected farm, which has a population of 40 animals,”
explained Federico Chaverri, Director of the Operations Department of the entity.
Authorities are conducting an epidemiological research on the farm where the outbreak occurred and on neighboring farms to look for new affected animals.
In addition, exposed animals -bovine and canine- are being protected by vaccination. Similarly, the vaccination of the people who were in contact with the affected animals was coordinated with the governing areas of the Hospital and the Ministry of Health of the Canton of Corredores.
Rabies is a disease that affects the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It causes lack of coordination, difficulty walking, salivation, paralysis of the legs that prevents getting up, twisting of the neck and, finally, death.
Experts recommend avoiding contact with sick animals that show the symptoms, burying animal carcasses, vaccinating animals and immediately reporting any suspicious cases to SENASA. In 2017, SENASA detected two outbreaks of bovine paralytic rabies in San Vito de Coto Brus.