World Rabies Day is celebrated annually on September 28 to raise awareness about rabies prevention and to highlight progress in defeating this horrifying disease. This day also marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur’s death, the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first rabies vaccine.
With a fatality rate of almost 100% once symptoms appear, rabies remains one of the deadliest zoonoses, killing nearly 59, 000 people every year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that September 28, 2025, will mark the 19th World Rabies Day. This year’s “Act now: you, me, communities” is calling on you, me, and our communities to take responsibility, work together, and drive real change. For the first time in its 19-year history, WRD’s theme does not include the word “rabies”, showing how well-established this movement has become. Whether you are an individual, part of an organization, or a decision-maker, the time to act is today.
What Does the Theme Mean?
- You – Take action in your personal life: vaccinate your dog, educate yourself about how to prevent rabies and Pre- and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, or advocate for better policies.
- Me – Lead by example: inspire others, train professionals, or support rabies elimination efforts in your community.
- Community – Work together: organize vaccination campaigns, educate learners and their families, and push for stronger rabies elimination programs.
The WHO says that to Act Now is the difference between life and death. As a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), rabies disproportionately affects underserved communities, mainly in Africa and Asia. Every nine minutes, rabies claims another victim, but death is 100% preventable. When we work together, eliminating this disease for good relies on all of us acting now!
What You Can Do
This year’s theme “Act Now: You, Me Community”, invites us to take individual and collective steps to stop the spread of dog-mediated rabies. These include responsible dog ownership, organising rabies education events and participating in rabies vaccine campaigns.
The theme calls on individuals and communities to act to prevent the spread of dog-mediated rabies. It invites us to support vaccination campaigns, share social media messages, partner with organisations, increase awareness, or raising money for rabies elimination. Whichever mode of action you choose, your participation will make a difference.
By collaborating and joining forces, engaging communities and committing to sustain dog vaccination, rabies can be eliminated.
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