World Rabies Day is observed annually on September 28 to raise awareness about rabies and the importance of vaccination for preventing the disease. Rabies is a serious viral infection that affects animals but can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches. The global event highlights the need for better access to vaccines and treatments, especially in areas where rabies is more common.  The date September 28 also marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur's death, the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first rabies vaccine.

The international awareness campaign is coordinated by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, a non-profit organisation with headquarters in the United States. The day is a United Nations Observance and has been endorsed by international human and veterinary health organisations such as the World Health Organization, the Pan-American Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

World Rabies Day 2024 Date and Theme

World Rabies Day 2024 will be observed on Saturday, September 28. Each year, the day is observed around a dedicated theme. World Rabies Day 2024 theme is 'Breaking Rabies Boundaries.'

World Rabies Day History

World Rabies Day was established to be an inclusive day of education, awareness and action to encourage groups from all levels to increase the spread of rabies prevention messages. The main objectives include raising global awareness about rabies and how to stop the disease, and educating people in rabies-endemic countries to prevent rabies. The first World Rabies Day campaign took place on September 8, 2007 as a partnership between the Alliance for Rabies Control and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA, with the co-sponsorship of the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Pan American Health Organization.

In 2009, the Global Alliance for Rabies Control estimated that rabies prevention and awareness events had taken place in over 100 countries, nearly 100 million people worldwide had been educated about rabies and nearly 3 million dogs had been vaccinated during events linked to the campaign.

World Rabies Day Significance

World Rabies Day is marked annually to raise awareness about rabies prevention and to highlight progress in defeating this horrifying disease. The day helps educate people about rabies, a preventable but often fatal disease. On this day, awareness campaigns and workshops are held to educate the public about how rabies is transmitted and the importance of vaccination for both pets and people. World Rabies Day emphasises the critical role of vaccination in preventing rabies. By promoting rabies vaccinations for pets and at-risk populations, it aims to reduce the incidence of the disease.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2024 10:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).