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World Rabies Day is celebrated on September 28th. The theme for this year is ‘Breaking Rabies Boundaries‘, highlighting the importance of a collaborative approach to rabies prevention.
World Rabies Day is an annual event that is celebrated on September 28 that raise awareness about the world’s most infectious disease.
This day also honours the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine. It is a global day to raise awareness about rabies and its prevention.
Rabies is a viral disease that can affect any mammal, including humans. It is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, typically through a bite.
Once the virus enters the body, it travels to the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation and eventually death.
History of World Rabies Day:
This global health observance began in 2007 and it was launched by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It has since grown into a global event, with events held in over 150 countries around the world.
The goal of World Rabies Day is to raise awareness about rabies and its prevention and to promote collaboration between different organisations working to eliminate rabies.
This day also aims to educate the public about the importance of vaccinating dogs against rabies.
Theme:
- 2024: Breaking Rabies Boundaries
- 2023: All for 1 – One Health for all
- 2022: Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths
- 2021: Rabies: Facts, not Fear
- 2020: End rabies: collaborate and vaccinate
- 2019: Rabies: Vaccinate to eliminate
- 2018: Rabies: Share the message. Save a life
Which Animals Spread Rabies?
According to the National Library of Medicine, these animals are most likely to spread rabies:
- Dogs: Dogs are the main source of rabies infection for humans. Rabies is still common in many parts of the world, and dogs are responsible for the majority of human rabies deaths.
- Bats: Bats are the second most common animal to spread rabies to humans. Bat bites are often small and difficult to notice, so people may not realize they have been exposed to rabies.
- Raccoons: Raccoons are the most common wild animal to carry rabies in the United States.
Skunks: Skunks are another common wild animal that can carry rabies. - Foxes: Foxes are also known to carry rabies, but they are less common than raccoons and skunks in most parts of the United States.
Other animals that can spread rabies include coyotes, wolves, ferrets, and cats. However, these animals are less likely to come into contact with humans and pets, so they are less likely to spread the virus.
World Rabies Day is a reminder that rabies is a serious global problem, but it is also a preventable one.
By working together to vaccinate dogs and other animals, educate people about rabies, and report animal bites promptly, we can eliminate rabies and create a safer world for everyone.
