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Irish tourists heading to Spain warned over ‘almost always fatal' virus, six signs to watch out for
IRISH tourists heading to Spain have been warned over a "almost always fatal" virus with six signs to look out for.
Spanish health authorities confirmed that a person contracted the rabies virus earlier this month in the
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Rabies was caught by a person in the Valencia region of Spain
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The disease is considered almost always fatal
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The case has triggered concern among health officials, as the disease is considered one of the most lethal viral infections known to
Rabies is a viral disease that primarily spreads through the saliva of infected animals.
It is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of a rabid
The virus attacks the central nervous system, causing inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
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Early symptoms resemble those of the flu with a fever, headache and discomfort but rapidly progresses to severe neurological complications, including confusion, hallucinations and paralysis.
Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is 'almost always fatal.'
The Spanish Ministry of
The Spanish General Directorate of Public Health said: "In early June 2025, the Valencian Health Department reported a fatal case of rabies in a patient who suffered a dog bite during a trip to Ethiopia in July 2024.
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'The case poses no risk to public health as it is transmitted only through bites from rabid animals, and mainland Spain and its islands have been free of rabies in terrestrial mammals since 1978.'
Spain has long been considered rabies-free.
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Since 1978, the country has maintained its status as free from rabies, largely due to vaccination programs and strict pet import controls.
However, the government has said there is a risk of imported cases, particularly in regions that border
While the country remains at alert level 0 meaning no active terrestrial rabies, certain areas like Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa, are occasionally placed at alert level 1.
The Spanish government's contingency plan for rabies control states: "According to the Contingency Plan for the Control of Terrestrial Rabies in Captive and Wild Animals in Spain, 2023, Spain is at alert level 0 (no cases of terrestrial rabies).
'In the Autonomous Cities of Ceuta and Melilla, alert level 1 is occasionally activated, due to the risk that imported cases of animal rabies crossing the border from Morocco may come into contact with local populations of feral dogs, leading to local transmission."
How to avoid catching the disease
Holidaymakers travelling to
Tourists should avoid touching or feeding stray animals, ensure that any pets travelling with them have rabies vaccinations and seek medical advice immediately if they are bitten or scratched.
In cases of suspected exposure, post-exposure prophylaxis is critical.
This treatment involves a series of rabies vaccines administered over a period of weeks and is nearly 100 percent effective if given after exposure but becomes ineffective once symptoms have developed.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre advises anyone who suspects they have been bitten by an animal to take "urgent action".
The HSPC advises that
not approach animals
not attempt to pick up an unusually tame animal or one that appears to be unwell
not attract stray animals by offering food or by being careless with litter
be aware that certain activities may attract dogs (e.g. running, cycling)
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Irish tourists have now been warned to exercise caution
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