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 each year on the 28 September – the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, the first person to successfully create a vaccine against rabies.
This year’s World Rabies Day theme, “Stronger Together,” highlights a simple truth: rabies elimination is only possible when we work together.
From local communities and veterinary professionals to governments, healthcare workers, educators, and global partners, we all have role to play in making a world free from rabies a reality.
In NHS Lothian travel clinics, we encourage all of our travellers to high-risk areas to be aware of the risk and use animal avoidance measures. We can also offer pre-exposure vaccination for the traveller’s own protection and to reduce the burden on local healthcare systems.
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, viral disease that is spread through the saliva or nervous system tissues of an infected mammal via lick, bite, scratch or saliva/tissue exposure.
- Rabies is virtually 100% fatal
- Worldwide more than 59,000 people die from rabies every year
- Over 95% of these deaths are in Africa and Asia, with the majority occurring from rabid dog bites (although dogs are not the only animal species that can present a risk)
- 40% of those bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years
- Effective and safe vaccines exist for both humans and dogs, and if given are highly protective
For more info on preventing Rabies via awareness and vaccination please see: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/disease/148/rabies
For more info on World Rabies Day see: https://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day
