On 06 Jun 2025, Spain reported a fatal case of human rabies in a 44-year-old male resident of the Valencian Community.
The patient had been bitten on the right leg by a dog during a trip to Ethiopia in July 2024. He cleaned the wound but did not seek medical attention or receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Approximately ten months later, he developed nonspecific symptoms, including fever, nausea, and mood changes. These progressed to hydrophobia, leading to a clinical suspicion of rabies. Despite intensive care, he died on 06 Jun 2025.
Spain, including its peninsular territory and islands, has been officially free of terrestrial rabies since 1978, with the exception of an isolated case in June 2013 involving a dog imported from Morocco. However, sporadic imported cases of rabies continue to be reported in the Autonomous Cities of Ceuta and Melilla, primarily involving dogs (four rabies dogs between April to June 2025) and occasionally horses.
This tragic case underscores the importance of awareness about rabies and the critical need for post- exposure prophylaxis following potential exposures, such as dog bites, in rabies-endemic travel destinations, see also rabies factsheet.
Prevention: Avoid contact with animals and do not feed them! Travelers are advised to get a pre-exposure vaccination, especially those at higher risk, such as individuals working with animals, riding two-wheelers, visiting remote areas, young children, cave explorers, or anyone who may come into contact with bats.
Behavior after exposure: After an animal bite/scratch: immediately wash the wound with water and soap for 15 minutes, then disinfect and in any case visit a high-quality medical center for post-exposure vaccination as soon as possible!