World Rabies Day 2021

World Rabies Day aims to raise awareness and advocate for rabies elimination globally, helping to unite all people, organisations and stakeholders in the fight against rabies. It is held on 28 September each year to celebrate the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, who was the first person to successfully create a vaccine against rabies.

This year's theme "Rabies: Facts, not Fear" urges people to focus on facts about rabies and dispel any myths or misconceptions. It reminds us of the key global issues affecting rabies elimination which are:

Fake news and how this can negatively affect rabies elimination efforts

• strive to share accurate facts about rabies
• ensure decisions about rabies control in countries are based on the correct, most up to date information

Vaccine hesitancy and the misconceptions about vaccination

• share facts about the benefits of vaccinating animals against rabies
• ensure that exposed people receive post-exposure prophylaxis
• dispel any myths about rabies vaccination to ensure everyone is protected
• rid our communities and colleagues of any fears around vaccination

See the Global Alliance for Rabies Control website for information on how you can get involved with the World Rabies Day campaign.

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a viral disease that is transmitted through the saliva or nervous system tissues of an infected mammal to another mammal

• rabies is the deadliest disease on earth with a 99.9% fatality rate
• over 5.5 billion people live with the daily risk of rabies
• there are approximately 59,000 deaths every year
• over 95% of these deaths are in Africa and Asia, with the majority occurring from rabid dog bites
• around half of the people who die are children

See the TRAVAX Rabies page for additional information on the disease.