World Rabies Day is an annual event to raise awareness of rabies prevention and the progress being made in the fight against this terrible disease. It is also the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, the pioneer of the rabies vaccine. Learn about its date, theme, history, and significance.
When is World Rabies Day 2023? World Rabies Day will be globally celebrated on Thursday, September 28.
World Rabies Day 2023 Theme The 17th World Rabies Day carries the theme “All for 1, One Health for All.” This theme underscores that the concept of “One Health” applies to everyone, emphasizing a holistic approach to health that encompasses humans, animals, and the environment.
History of World Rabies Day Established by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control in 2007 and later endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), World Rabies Day serves the purpose of highlighting progress made in eradicating rabies and raising awareness about rabies prevention.
This observance is notably tied to the work of French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine. Louis Pasteur’s death on September 28 is the reason why World Rabies Day is observed annually on this date.
The Global Alliance for Rabies Control selects a unique theme for World Rabies Day each year to shed light on various aspects of the disease and its prevention.
World Rabies Day Significance World Rabies Day offers an opportunity to reflect on how rabies affects communities worldwide. Rabies is typically prevalent in wild animals and remains widespread in some regions. While rabies in domesticated animals like dogs and cats is relatively rare in countries with high vaccination rates, it still poses a risk, especially when traveling abroad.
Approximately 25% of recorded human rabies deaths among Americans result from dog bites sustained during international travel. Despite being a preventable disease, rabies claims about 60,000 human lives each year, highlighting the ongoing importance of rabies prevention efforts.
World Rabies Day serves as a reminder that the fight against rabies is ongoing and requires continued vigilance and global cooperation. It underscores the need for comprehensive approaches to health, acknowledging the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental well-being.