Capybaras found dead from rabies on Brazilian island underline need to monitor virus

Three capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) died from rabies on Anchieta Island in the municipality of Ubatuba, São Paulo state, Brazil, between December 2019 and January 2020. One was found dead, and two exhibited hindlimb paralysis before dying. Analysis of their brains conducted at Instituto Pasteur in São Paulo city showed the cause of death to be rabies encephalitis.