World Rabies Day

On 28th September 2024, World Rabies Day, the international community will reflect on the ongoing efforts and challenges in eradicating rabies, a disease that still claims thousands of lives despite being preventable.

World Rabies Day commemorates the death of Louis Pasteur, the pioneer who developed the first rabies vaccine, and reminds us of the need for continuous awareness, education, and vaccination to combat this deadly disease.
Despite medical advancements, rabies remains nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear, making it one of the deadliest zoonotic diseases known to mankind.
Globally, rabies claims approximately 59,000 lives annually, with India contributing to nearly 33% of these deaths, the majority of which are caused by dog bites.
Rabies is preventable through prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which includes wound care, rabies immunoglobulin, and vaccination after an animal bite, yet many fatalities occur due to lack of awareness and timely medical intervention.
Rabies control initiatives have shifted from treating symptoms to proactive strategies like mass dog vaccination programs, which have proven effective in reducing transmission in several countries.