World Rabies Day - September 28, 2024 | Spirit Of The Holidays

On September 28, NGOs, governments, and people from all over the world will unite to on World Rabies Day to spread awareness about the dangers of the disease, and how it can be stopped.The event, put on by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), seeks to educate the public about how rabies can be eradicated in people and domestic animals if we take the appropriate steps. Around the world, dogs are the most common animal affected by rabies, with more than 99 percent of human cases coming from dog bites. GARC sponsors the event not only to raise awareness for one day, but with the hope that communities can put measures in place to help control the spread of rabies all year round.

World Rabies Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about rabies prevention and to highlight progress in defeating this horrifying disease. 28 September also marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur’s death, the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first rabies vaccine.

Rabies is an infectious viral disease that is almost always fatal following the onset of clinical signs. The veterinary and human medical profession need to work together to combat this still avoidable disease which is still so prevalent in Africa and some Asian Countries. The theme for 2016 was Educate. Vaccinate. Eliminate.

World Rabies Day timeline

1920s

Vaccination comes to America

Widespread adoption of the rabies vaccine soon occurs

1885

First vaccine developed

It was developed for animals

1700s

Europe tries to eradicate rabies

It attempts to destroy all stray dogs to fight the virus

300 BC

Aristotle writes about rabies

He writes a paper noting a disease that affects dogs and any animal the dog bites

How to Observe World Rabies Day

Get involved

GARC hosts dozens of events around the world, from South Africa to Afghanistan, where you can learn more about how to control rabies. The group is also circulating a pledge that people can sign to fight for the Zero by 30 cause. Other ways to get involved include organizing an event for yourself, or nominating a champion for a World Rabies Day award.

Do your research

There are several steps that must be taken in a number of different situations regarding rabies. Make sure you know what to do if your pet bites another person, if another person’s pet bites you, or if your pet is bitten by another pet. In any of these cases, there are specific ways doctors and veterinarians must handle the situation, so do your part to know as well.

End the stigma

When we think of rabies, we typically think of crazed dogs, humans, squirrels, and skunks, foaming at the mouth like zombies. Remember that these are symptoms of a deadly virus, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. So instead of seeing rabies as the plot of a horror movie, we may need to shift our thinking if we’re going to eliminate it.

Why World Rabies Day is Important

It has an ambitious goal

GARC has set an ambitious but admirable goal for rabies: Zero by 30. That is to say, by putting the right measures in place, the world could see zero human death of rabies caused by dog bites by the year 2030. This resolution was agreed upon in 2015 among a group of organizations including the World Health Organization, World Organisation for Animal Health, UN Food and Agriculture Organization and GARC.

It’s a serious disease

Every year, more than 60,000 people around the world die from rabies infection. Considering the World Health Organization deems rabies a 100 percent preventable disease, it’s now up to communities, NGOs and governments around the world to come together to put the measures in place that will stop these unnecessary deaths.

It spreads knowledge

By knowing how to prevent pets from getting rabies, anyone can do their part to put an end to the virus. World Rabies Day seeks to highlight local and state laws that help control spread of the disease, and also hosts events for vaccinating puppies under 12 months of age. Knowing about rabies is the first step to eradicating it among people and our pets.

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