Outbreak of bovine rabies in Guanacaste and Puntarenas
August 29th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) The National Animal Health Service (Senasa) has reported three outbreaks of bovine paralytic rabies on cattle farms in Guanacaste and Puntarenas in recent days.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and can lead to death.
SENASA has established quarantines on affected farms, and is attempting to capture “vampire” bats that commonly spread the disease to cattle.
SENASA is also investigating if other animals near the farms may have been affected, including horses and dogs.
The Ministry of Health said that there is no risk in consuming meat from the infected animals. “Once the animal is sacrificed and the meat passes through the cooking process, there is no risk of infection,” health authorities said.
Health authorities said that owners do not usually sell animals that show signs of the disease for consumption, adding, “It is unlikely that there is contaminated beef in the market.”
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