World Rabies Day is a global health observance celebrated annually on September 28th to raise awareness about rabies and its prevention.
The day also marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur’s death, the French chemist and microbiologist who developed the first rabies vaccine.
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease that occurs in more than 150 countries and territories. Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans. It is 100% fatal but 100% preventable.
The theme for World Rabies Day 2024 is “Breaking Rabies Boundaries”.
Effective rabies prevention involves both pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a preventive measure taken before exposure to the virus. It involves a series of rabies vaccines to build immunity and protect against potential future exposure.
Post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, is a medical treatment administered after exposure to the virus. It typically includes wound cleaning, rabies vaccines, and rabies immune globulin (RIG) to prevent the virus from spreading and causing disease.
By understanding the importance of both passive and active immunization, we can work towards eliminating rabies and protecting communities from this deadly disease.