The health authorities in the “Vittorio Veneto” area in northern Italy announced a wide health alert after confirming a dog was infected with rabies, as reported by the local Italian health agency.
According to official data, the dog was taken to a veterinary clinic last Wednesday after showing severe neurological symptoms, before laboratory tests revealed its infection with the rabies virus. This is a dangerous viral disease that can be transmitted to humans through bites or direct contact with infected animals.
Epidemiological investigations revealed that the dog had been illegally brought into Italy from Morocco some time ago by a family member of the animal’s owner, following a tourist trip, and without adhering to the veterinary and health procedures in place for the entry of pets.
Due to the seriousness of the situation, a decision was made to subject the animal to euthanasia before sending samples to the reference veterinary institute for the Veneto region, which confirmed the diagnosis of rabies, indicating that the viral strain originated from Morocco.
Following the confirmation of the case, health authorities launched an epidemiological investigation to trace all contacts over the two weeks prior to the appearance of symptoms. A total of 32 individuals were subjected to preventive and therapeutic measures according to the degree of exposure, including the dog owner who had been bitten by the animal.
Several contact animals were also identified, with 10 dogs placed under surveillance and health isolation, with authorities confirming that all of them are in stable condition.
As part of precautionary measures, local authorities issued a decision mandating the vaccination of all dogs and cats in the area against rabies, affecting about 4,400 dogs and 900 cats.
The Italian health authorities confirmed that the situation is under control and that the rapid intervention has contained the risks and prevented the spread of infection in the area.
This is the first appearance of a rabies case in northeastern Italy in about 15 years, prompting authorities to activate strict monitoring protocols.
