Rabies – zoonosis or public health issue?

Rabies is an infectious viral disease of mammals caused by the rabies virus, a neurotropic virus of the genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae, which is found in the saliva of infected animals. Children are at a higher risk of infection due to certain risk factors, including bites from infected animals and accidental exposure to urine or other secretions from infected animals. It should be noted that children sometimes do not report the contact with a suspected infected animal, which can unfortunately lead to a delay in diagnosis. Mass media has reported numerous cases of rabies in recent months, including one fatal case, with infections in a wide variety of animals (cows, lemurs, deer), with many patients and their contacts seeking specific prophylaxis from emergency services. In most situations, known prevention rules are being violated (direct contact with dead animals, failure to vaccinate animals, dangerous exposure to wild animals at the zoo). Statistics performed at the “Sf. Parascheva” Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Iași, Romania, show an increase in reported and vaccinated cases from 2020 to 2024, with a slight decrease in the last year. However, in 2025, 28 rabies outbreaks were confirmed, with 190 human contacts, a record so far. Therefore, the introduction of rabies serum into a national health program should be considered, thus ensuring the actual reimbursement of this medication, which is necessary in a condition with a 100% lethal risk. Beyond treatment, adults and caregivers of children at risk of infection should be aware of the danger posed by wild animals (in nature, at the zoo, or those that unwantedly populate urban areas) in order to take preventive measures.