Death in the EU/EEA from autochthonous human rabies, Romania, July 2025: a call for action

Abstract

We report a confirmed autochthonous human case of classical rabies in Romania involving an individual in their mid-40s from Iași county, who was bitten by a free-roaming dog in February 2025. The case did not receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and died from rabies in July 2025. This event highlights critical gaps in rabies prevention, the importance of timely PEP, and the need for continued vigilance in rabies surveillance and public health communication.