Rabies, the often neglected zoonotic disease (a disease that is transmitted from animals to humans), is caused by the bite of an infected animal. With the exception of Antarctica, the disease is endemic on all continents with the highest case incidence occurring in Asia and Africa. Rabies leads to an approximate 70,000 deaths each year. Yet Rabies is a 100% vaccine-preventable disease. Unlike many other diseases, we already have all the tools needed to eradicate Rabies. The occurrence of human cases is related to failures in canine vaccination campaigns, health promotion, surveillance and control, and in a lack of access to health care.
World Rabies Day
Whilst some Rabies campaigns try to instill fear showcasing images of rabid dogs, please don’t get the wrong idea. Human beings still are the most lethal species when it comes to spreading diseases and deaths. Love people. Love dogs. Hate Rabies.
The World Rabies Day is observed every year on the 28th of September with the aim to increase awareness of rabies and the solutions that can prevent needless deaths. World Rabies Day helps communities globally to bring an end to rabies through awareness measures. End Rabies Together is the theme for World Rabies Day 2015. It strives to highlight the ongoing importance of global commitment across sectors – governments, NGOs, corporations, and civic society – to effectively end the spread of rabies and save both human and canine lives.
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Let’s #EndRabies Together.