September 28: World Rabies Day

September 28, 2020

Every year, World Rabies Day is celebrated on September 28 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. The day is also celebrated by the World Health Organization and other international organizations.

Background

The day was endorsed by international organizations such as Pan American Health Organization, World Organization for Animal Health, WHO and the USA Centres for disease control and prevention.

Highlights

The day is marked on death anniversary of Louis Pasteur who developed the first rabies vaccine. The day aims to create awareness about the impact of rabies on animals and humans. Also, the day focuses on providing information and advice on preventing the disease.

The first World Rabies Campaign took place in 2007. In 2009, it reached to more than 100 countries. By then the message had reached 100 million people and more than 3 million dogs were vaccinated.

This year the World Rabies Day is celebrated under the theme

Theme: Vaccination and Collaboration

GARC

The main aim of Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) is to prevent human deaths from dog-mediated rabies. It aims to eliminate such deaths completely by 2030.

Rabies in India

India accounts to 36% of rabies death in the world. This is mainly because of insufficient dog vaccines and poor awareness. India launched National Rabies Control Programme to control the disease in the country. The Programme has two components namely the animal component and the human component. Under the animal component, the following are being carried out

Mass Vaccination of dogs
Management of dog population
Population survey of dogs

Under the human component, the following are carried on

Laboratory strengthening
Training of health professionals
Strengthening of surveillance of human rabies

Every year, more than 20,000 people die of rabies in India. This is because, India has more than 30 million stray dogs that cause 96% of rabies in human