Rabies Outbreak Hits Melilla: Morocco’s Deadly Dog Sparks Health Alert

The animal in question is a young adult crossbreed dog of medium size and short white fur with a cinnamon-colored head. According to the report of the Civil Guard, it entered the autonomous city from Morocco via the Beni Enzar border post on September 7th. The dog was then spotted in the neighborhood of Infanta Elena Street No. 57, before being captured in the vicinity of the airport tunnel by the animal collection service and transferred to the Reception and Observation Center, relays Europa Press.

After being admitted to the said center, the animal began to show symptoms of rabies, which intensified until its death on September 11th. The results of the analysis of the sample sent to the National Center for Microbiology on September 15th confirmed that the dog was infected with rabies.

The health authorities have invited any person who has been bitten or in contact with this animal to go immediately to the Directorate General of Public Health, or to contact the local police for rapid care. They also recalled that "rabies, once the first symptoms have appeared, is a fatal disease for people and susceptible animals", stressing that anti-rabies vaccination is "mandatory and free in Melilla for dogs, cats and ferrets over three months old".

This case of rabies is the fifth from Morocco, recorded in Melilla since the beginning of this year 2025.