World Rabies Day 2022

26 Sep 2022

World Rabies Day is held on 28 September each year to celebrate the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, who was the first person to successfully create a vaccine against rabies.

This year's theme "Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths" aims to remind the global community that the goal of eliminating rabies in humans by the year 2030 (Zero by 30) is possible, if we come together and stand united to make positive changes.

See the Global Alliance for Rabies Control website for information on how you can get involved with the World Rabies Day campaign.

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a serious viral infection which affects the brain and nerves. The virus is spread through the saliva of infected animals. People usually become infected with rabies following a bite or scratch from an infected animal.

• 99.9% of people who become infected with rabies will die.
• More than 59,000 people die from rabies every year.
• Over 95% of people who die from rabies are located in Africa and Asia, following a bite from an infected dog.
• Nearly half of those bitten by rabies-infected animals each year are children under 15 years.
• Effective and safe vaccines exist for both humans and dogs, and if given are highly protective.

See the fitfortravel Rabies page for more information on the disease, and how you can protect yourself against rabies when travelling abroad.