Rabies case confirmed in Eastern Georgia, linked to wolf transmission

A case of rabies has been confirmed in a dog on a farm in eastern Georgia's Dedoplistskaro municipality, the National Food Agency announced on Wednesday.

The infected animal was located on a winter pasture, and laboratory testing confirmed the diagnosis on 20 May. Authorities have identified a wild wolf as the likely source of the infection.

In response, the National Food Agency has launched quarantine measures in the affected area. These include mandatory vaccination of animals, movement restrictions, disinfection protocols, and increased veterinary supervision. Health authorities have also been alerted.

Rabies is a life-threatening zoonotic disease that affects both wild and domestic animals, and it can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. However, vaccination remains an effective means of prevention in animals.

Each year, Georgia’s National Food Agency offers free rabies vaccinations, immunising up to 300,000 animals across the country. Officials are urging pet owners to ensure their dogs and cats are vaccinated in a timely manner.

“They should not contract rabies and endanger their own lives,” the Agency said in a statement.