Rabies transmitted by common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) has been known since the early 1900s but continues to expand geographically and in the range of species and environments affected. In this review, we present current knowledge of the epidemiology and management of rabies in D. rotundus and argue that it can be reasonably considered an emerging public health threat. We identify knowledge gaps related to the landscape determinants of the bat reservoir, reduction in bites on humans and livestock, and social barriers to prevention. We discuss how new technologies including autonomously-spreading vaccines and reproductive suppressants targeting bats might manage both rabies and undesirable growth of D. rotundus populations. Finally, we highlight widespread under-reporting of human and animal mortality and the scarcity of studies that quantify the efficacy of control measures such as bat culling. Collaborations between researchers and managers will be crucial to implement the next generation of rabies management in Latin America.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) launched the One Health policy in September 2021. To respond to this regional policy, a baseline was generated regarding the use of One Health intersectoral actions aimed at preventing, controlling, and eliminating zoonotic, foodborne diseases and antimicrobial resistance. For this purpose, in July 2022, the Pan American Food and Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health Center, Pan American, Health Organization/World Health Organization (PANAFTOSA/VPH-PAHO/WHO), organized a meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to bring together recognized public health and animal health and food safety officers from ministries of health and agriculture from nine different countries of the region: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Honduras, México, and Uruguay, including the three representatives of the Americas in the Quadripartite Panel of One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP 2021–2024). Several good practice examples and lessons learned of multisectoral communication, collaboration, coordination, and capacity building regarding control and prevention of zoonoses, food safety, and antimicrobial resistance programs were identified in these countries. The establishment of governance mechanisms and legal frameworks were the main aspects discussed, followed by the importance of the environmental sector, which often is poorly articulated in One Health initiatives. The leadership of PAHO for more than seven decades is part of the good health governance practices to create the ground for the One Health implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

One Health (OH) is an integrative approach to human, animal, and environmental health and can be used as a comprehensive indicator for comparative purposes. Although an OH index has been proposed for comparing cities, states, and countries, to date, no practical study has compared countries using this approach. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess OH initiatives using a survey with a veterinary public health focus. The questionnaire contained 104 quantitative questions and was sent to representatives of governmental institutions of 32 countries in the Americas. After exclusion criteria were considered, a total of 35 questionnaires from 17 countries were analyzed, with country names remaining undisclosed during the statistical analyses to protect potentially sensitive information. Principal component analysis (PCA) of health parameters in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as a function of country perception (self-vector) showed that food safety was ranked higher than public policies (p = 0.009), and that both (p = 0.003) were ranked higher than institutional routines related to zoonosis programs. National policies in accordance with international standards, regulations, recommendations, and guidelines was considered the standout topic for public policy, with higher-ranking topics including standard. Meanwhile, challenging topics included tools, preparedness, governance, and research. Food safety showed both strengths and challenges in the coordination of its activities with other sectors. Food safety communication was scored as a strength, while foodborne diseases prevention was ranked as a challenge. Institutional routines for zoonosis maintained both strong and challenging topics in the execution and implementation of attributions and daily routine. Thus, the survey showed that topics such as access to and compliance with international guidelines and intercountry integration were ranked higher than in-country articulation, particularly among food safety, zoonoses, and environmental institutions.