2016 marks the 10th World Rabies Day, a milestone in rabies prevention, aims to raise awareness about the public health impact of human and animal rabies.
Since it began in 2007, the rabies community have aligned to make World Rabies Day a global phenomenon. In that time, its life-saving rabies prevention messages have reached millions of people in over 100 different countries.
This year’s theme is Rabies: Educate. Vaccinate. Eliminate.
Rabies remains a major concern worldwide, killing more than 55,000 people every year. In the United States, one to two people die annually, and there were more than 6,000 reported cases of animal rabies in the U.S. in 2014.
What can YOU do? Vaccinate your animals and keep them away from wildlife that can spread the disease. Rabies is 100% preventable. According to Dr. Charles Rupprecht, former chief of the rabies program at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Your local veterinarian plays a key role in controlling rabies.”
Events to promote rabies awareness are being held across the world on Sept. 28. Visit the World Rabies Day website for information and for help in planning a World Rabies Day event.
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