Overview

• The 17-year-old died on August 24 of multi-organ failure in the IMSS General Hospital No. 1 in Zacatecas, according to the state health authority.
• The illness followed a June 22 bite from a skunk in Mezquital del Oro, and the patient did not receive timely post-exposure vaccination.
• The Zacatecas state lab reported a positive result on August 15 and sent samples to InDRE, with final confirmation still pending.
• Health teams initiated contact tracing and administered prophylactic rabies vaccination, with three high-risk contacts under clinical monitoring.
• Authorities are maintaining animal vaccination and community surveillance, noting Mexico’s progress against dog-mediated rabies and the ongoing risk from wildlife reservoirs.