World Rabies Day 🐕

Overview

World Rabies Day is an international day of awareness observed every September 28 to promote the prevention and eventual elimination of rabies in humans and animals worldwide.

Origin and story

September 28 marks the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, who — with his colleagues — developed the first effective rabies vaccine.

The first World Rabies Day was held in 2007, organized by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.

Quick facts

• DateSeptember 28
• TypeHealth / Awareness
• Great forPet owners, Veterinarians, Health workers

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Ways to celebrate

Rabies kills almost everyone it infects once symptoms begin, and yet a vaccine has existed since the 1880s — this day exists purely to close the gap between those two facts.

A date chosen to honor the vaccine's creator

World Rabies Day falls on September 28 to mark the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first effective rabies vaccine with his colleagues. The observance itself is much newer: the first World Rabies Day was held in 2007, organized by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, and it's since grown into a coordinated global effort involving the World Health Organization and health agencies worldwide.

A disease that's both nearly always fatal and almost entirely preventable

Rabies is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear, yet it's one of the most preventable diseases in medicine when caught early — through prompt vaccination after exposure. Dogs are responsible for the vast majority of human rabies cases worldwide, which is why mass dog vaccination campaigns are the centerpiece of World Rabies Day efforts. The WHO and its partners have set a goal known as "Zero by 30": eliminating human deaths from dog-mediated rabies worldwide by 2030.

Ways to mark the day

• Make sure your own pets' rabies vaccinations are current.
• Support or learn about a mass dog-vaccination campaign in an at-risk region.
• Share the "nearly 100% fatal, almost entirely preventable" fact — most people don't realize how solvable this disease already is.

Helpful resources: World Health Organization, "World Rabies Day" and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.

Did you know?

The WHO's "Zero by 30" goal specifically targets dog-mediated human rabies deaths — since vaccinating dogs is one of the most cost-effective ways to break the transmission chain to humans.

Fun facts

• The date, September 28, marks the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, who — with his colleagues — developed the first effective rabies vaccine.
• The first World Rabies Day was held in 2007, organized by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
• Rabies is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear, yet it is almost entirely preventable through vaccination.
• The World Health Organization, along with partners, set a goal of achieving zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 ("Zero by 30").
• Dogs are responsible for the vast majority of human rabies cases worldwide, which is why mass dog vaccination campaigns are central to World Rabies Day efforts.

Sources and attribution

Primary sources: World Health Organization, "World Rabies Day" and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is World Rabies Day?

It is observed on September 28 each year.

What is World Rabies Day?

World Rabies Day is an international day of awareness observed every September 28 to promote the prevention, control, and eventual elimination of rabies in both humans and animals. Coordinated by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and recognized by major health bodies, it unites communities, veterinarians, and health workers worldwide around vaccination and education efforts.

How do people celebrate World Rabies Day?

People support mass dog vaccination campaigns and learn the WHO's 'Zero by 30' goal: eliminating human deaths from dog-mediated rabies worldwide by 2030, a disease that's nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear but almost entirely preventable.

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