The first confirmed human case of rabies, Timor-Leste, 2024
Marcelo Amaral Mali, Filipe de Neri Machado, Filomeno Pinto Moniz, Frederico Bosco Alves dos Santos, Perpetua Ana Mery Estela Laot, Ari J Pereira Tilman, Tanizio Ebryes Florindo, Cristovao de Alexandria Barros, Adriano A. R. Barbosa, Jose A Oliveira Lima, Joao Paulo Goncalves, Francisco Borges, Elisabeth Hornay, Joanico Moises, Osmenia de jesus Neto, Liliana Varela, Agapito da Costa, Anthony Draper, Joshua Francis, Merita Monteiro
Abstract
In March 2024, the first ever human case of rabies, following a dog bite, was detected in Timor-Leste. This paper briefly discusses the circumstances of transmission, clinical presentation, palliative care of the case and public health measures taken. Timor-Leste was previously considered rabies-free. Any person who is bitten or scratched by an animal that could potentially transmit rabies virus (especially dogs, bats, monkeys or cats) in Timor-Leste should be assessed for consideration of provision of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.