September 28 is World Rabies Day

Article by R. Scott Nolen, courtesy of AVMA

On World Rabies Day this September 28, the global community is reminded that rabies—one of the deadliest viral zoonotic diseases known to man—still affects people and animals worldwide, with the canine variant of the virus causing the death of tens of thousands of people.

The virus can be transmitted to people via direct contact with saliva of an infected animal through a bite or other open wound. Rabies is almost always fatal to humans unless post-exposure prophylaxis is administered shortly after exposure. Domestic dogs, along with wild mammalian species, such as bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks, can serve as a reservoir for the rabies virus.

Despite major progress eliminating the canine variant of the rabies virus in the United States and most developed nations through stringent dog vaccination programs, canine rabies continues to claim the lives of an estimated 70,000 people annually, many of them children, in more than 150 countries.

Established in 2007 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) , World Rabies Day is the largest global awareness campaign for rabies prevention. This year’s theme, “Act Now: You, Me, Community,” emphasizes the role of individuals, veterinary professionals, and communities in preventing the spread of canine rabies through vaccination, education, and collaboration.

The international effort to eliminate rabies involves partnerships among the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly the OIE), and the United Against Rabies Forum. Together, these groups continue to push toward the shared goal of ending human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.

Rabies elimination strategies rely heavily on dog vaccination campaigns, community education, and rapid response to potential exposures.

Success also depends on maintaining a healthy population of vaccinated dogs and, when possible, minimizing the birth of puppies, according to the WOAH.

“Without any doubt, vaccinating at least 70% of the dog population in at-risk areas, amongst other relevant measures, will take us to eliminating dog-mediated rabies,” the organization said , adding that mass dog vaccination is one of the key principles of the global strategic plan to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 .

Dr. Link Welborn has seen firsthand the critical role veterinarians play in preventing rabies transmission. Earlier this year, he spent a week in rural Malawi volunteering with Mission Rabies , a United Kingdom–based charity that conducts mass canine rabies vaccination campaigns in high risk areas.

Dr. Welborn was part of a three-person team that vaccinated nearly 400 dogs for rabies during the week. His was one of 11 Mission Rabies teams working in the region, comprising veterinarians from the U.S. and U.K. who collectively vaccinated more than 3,400 dogs.

He recalled how they encountered two rabid dogs, one of which had recently bitten a child. Mission Rabies carried out contact tracing and ensured that the exposed individuals and animals received post-exposure prophylaxis.

“That child almost certainly would have died had Mission Rabies not intervened,” Dr. Welborn said. “Experiences like this reinforce the importance of these campaigns—not just for animal health, but for saving human lives.”

World Rabies Day 2025 invites veterinary professionals, pet owners, and community leaders to take practical steps toward rabies prevention. These include ensuring pets are vaccinated, supporting local and international vaccination campaigns, educating clients and communities about rabies risks, and contributing to organizations advancing rabies elimination worldwide.

As Dr. Welborn emphasized, “Rabies is preventable. By working together as individuals and communities, we can eliminate this disease and prevent needless suffering. It’s also critically important that every dog and cat in the United States continue to be consistently vaccinated for rabies, so that it doesn’t become a common life-threatening problem in our country as it was years ago”.

Related articles:

• Dr. Link Welborn to Visit Cambodia for Mission Rabies
• Rabies Prevention Tips for Pet Owners