Brazil reports rising animal rabies cases in Mato Grosso do Sul and Santa Catarina

The public health agency in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, confirmed its 11th case of rabies in bats for 2026, matching the total recorded for the entire previous year. The infected bat was found in the Vila Nasser district and sent to a laboratory for confirmation. Authorities emphasized continued monitoring, public avoidance of direct contact with bats, and the importance of annual vaccination for dogs and cats to prevent transmission to humans and other mammals.

In Santa Catarina, the state’s agricultural development agency (Cidasc) reported 26 confirmed cases of rabies in production animals during 2026, including a bovine case in Itapiranga. The majority of cases were recorded in the municipalities of Pescaria Brava, Chapecó and Orleans. The hematophagous vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is identified as the primary vector for livestock infection. Cidasc reiterated the need for timely vaccination of herds and immediate reporting of bat activity or animal attacks to enable epidemiological investigation and control measures.