Following a confirmed case of rabies in a domestic cat, health officials in Jundiaí, Brazil, are bolstering preventative measures in the Vila Arens neighborhood. While Brazil has been without records of human rabies transmitted by dogs for nearly a decade [[2]], vigilance and vaccination remain critical to protecting public and animal health. Starting Tuesday, a door-to-door vaccination campaign will supplement earlier efforts, aiming to increase coverage and contain any potential spread of the virus within the affected area.
Health officials in Jundiaí, Brazil, are expanding rabies vaccination efforts in the Vila Arens neighborhood following a confirmed case in a cat earlier this month. Rabies is a serious viral disease that affects the central nervous system, and proactive vaccination is crucial for protecting both animal and human health.
Starting Tuesday, November 25, a public health team will conduct door-to-door vaccinations for dogs and cats in the area. This follows an initial effort offering vaccinations at temporary clinics on November 13, 14, and 15. The expanded campaign aims to reach pets that were not vaccinated during the earlier phase.
The vaccination team will operate between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., focusing on the area identified in a recent assessment to maximize vaccination coverage. “We will actively seek out residences to administer the vaccine to animals that, for some reason, could not be brought to the temporary clinics when they were available,” explained Dr. Luis Gustavo Grijota Nascimento, coordinator of the local health surveillance agency (VISAM). “The goal is to increase vaccination rates in the region, especially in the areas surrounding where the feline rabies case was detected.”
Animals must be at least 3 months old to receive the rabies vaccine. This age requirement ensures the vaccine is effective and safe for the animal.
In addition to the targeted Vila Arens campaign, VISAM maintains a permanent, fixed vaccination post for dogs and cats from all neighborhoods within the municipality. The post is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents interested in vaccinating their pets are encouraged to contact VISAM for guidance and scheduling at (11) 4589-6340 / 6350.
