A rabies outbreak that killed three cattle in southern Costa Rica has prompted renewed warnings for ranchers and pet owners to keep animals vaccinated, particularly in areas where vampire bats can transmit the virus. The latest outbreak was found in Pilón, in the area around Pavones, Golfito. The affected farm was placed under quarantine, and all 165 cattle on the property were ordered vaccinated as part of efforts to prevent further spread.
People who had direct contact with the infected animals are also receiving preventive treatment. The Golfito outbreak brings the number of reported paralytic bovine rabies outbreaks in Costa Rica to five so far in 2026. Cases have been recorded in Upala, Cañas, Osa and Golfito, reinforcing concern in rural areas where cattle and wildlife frequently come into contact.
The virus affecting cattle in these outbreaks is primarily transmitted by vampire bats, particularly Desmodus rotundus, a species that feeds on blood. Infected bats can bite the same animal repeatedly over several nights, allowing the virus to enter the animal’s body if it has not been vaccinated.
For cattle, rabies often appears differently than the aggressive form commonly associated with infected dogs. Bovine cases typically develop what is known as paralytic or “dumb” rabies. Early signs can include weakness in the rear legs, difficulty walking and problems remaining upright. As the disease advances, animals may develop paralysis of the tail and jaw, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing and eventually become unable to stand.
The disease is fatal once it develops. The concern extends beyond cattle. Veterinary specialists are urging residents in affected and rabies-prone areas to make sure dogs and cats are current on their annual rabies vaccinations. Cats can face particular exposure because they sometimes hunt bats that enter homes, barns or nearby buildings. An unvaccinated dog or cat that contracts rabies can then expose people through bites, scratches or saliva.
Those in the area are also being warned not to handle bats, whether they appear healthy, injured or dead. Anyone bitten by a bat or who believes they may have had direct contact with one should seek medical attention immediately rather than waiting for symptoms to develop. Preventive treatment is most effective when started before the virus reaches the nervous system.
Costa Rica is home to a large diversity of bat species, and the current warning should not be seen as a reason to harm them. Most bats play important roles in the ecosystem by eating insects, spreading seeds and pollinating plants. The concern surrounding bovine rabies is focused primarily on blood-feeding vampire bats and the possibility of infected animals passing the virus to livestock or domestic animals.
Current control efforts emphasize vaccination rather than widespread killing of bats. Livestock in affected areas can be vaccinated, domestic animals kept current on their shots, and suspected cases reported quickly so veterinary teams can investigate. Ranchers are being told to watch cattle closely for neurological symptoms and to avoid handling animals showing unexplained paralysis, excessive salivation, coordination problems or sudden changes in behavior.
Suspected animals should not be moved, and carcasses should not be removed or handled without guidance from animal health personnel. The Golfito outbreak is particularly noteworthy in Costa Rica’s southern area, where cattle farms overlap with extensive forest and wildlife habitat.
Pavones is better known internationally for its beaches and surfing, but much of the surrounding canton remains rural, with farms, forests and small communities spread across a large area. There has been no indication that the outbreak poses a general threat to visitors traveling to Pavones or Golfito. The practical concern is direct contact with infected animals or bats, particularly for ranchers, veterinarians, farm workers and people living with unvaccinated pets in affected areas.
For most people the best protection is to keep dogs, cats and livestock vaccinated and report animals showing unusual neurological symptoms. This new warning comes as Costa Rica balances two important priorities: protecting livestock and public health while recognizing the ecological importance of bats in controlling insects, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds throughout Costa Rica’s ecosystems.
