World Rabies Day

World Rabies Day, observed on September 28^th each year, is a global initiative to raise awareness about the continuing burden of Rabies and how the disease can be prevented. The campaign brings together thousands of individuals from health experts to everyday people for a unified show of support of anti-rabies efforts. World Rabies Day advocates for the health of the total population (human and animal), through a “One Medicine” approach and is the only worldwide event of its kind focused on global rabies control and prevention.

The inaugural World Rabies Day (2007) was celebrated globally as a great success and an important step forward for rabies prevention and control. Various World Rabies Day events were held throughout the world including vaccination clinics, runs for rabies, parades, educational seminars, festival and marches. The campaign saw participation of nearly 400,000 people from 74 countries. The phenomenal global response [ [http://www.worldrabiesday.org/downloads/WRDOutcomes2007.pdf WRD Outcomes 2007] ] to the inaugural campaign illustrates the widespread recognition of the need for action to control this devastating, but easily preventable disease. Through the World Rabies Day initiative, awareness and resources are rallied towards Working Together to Make Rabies History!

In 2006, the Alliance for Rabies Control (ARC), a UK registered charity, was created to alleviate the burden of rabies across the world by promoting and implementing rabies control, prevention and education programs while accounting for animal welfare and conservation issues. The establishment of ARC marks the start of a new kind of initiative in the field of rabies: an independent, non-profit organization bringing together public and private expertise to establish a partnership involving field personnel, academics and a wide range of organizations with an interest and concern for rabies control. Working together, these partners aim to bring the expertise and motivation needed to control rabies throughout the world and reduce the impacts of this terrible disease on human and animal health.

Rabies

Despite being 100% preventable, one person dies from rabies every ten minutes. It is estimated that 55,000 people [ [http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs099/en/ WHO | Rabies ] ] die worldwide from rabies each year. Children are particularly at risk, with almost half of all rabies deaths occurring in children under 15 years. The main source of human exposure to rabies, especially in children, is from dogs. Rabies can be transmitted from dogs not vaccinated against the disease. Unfortunately, vaccination is neglected in many parts of the world.

References

External links

* [http://www.worldrabiesday.org World Rabies Day – Official Site]
* [http://www.rabiescontrol.net The Alliance for Rabies Control]
* [http://www.cdc.gov/rabies Centers for Disease Control & Prevention]
* [http://www.avma.org/communications/brochures/rabies/rabies_brochure.asp American Veterinary Medical Association]
* [http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/rabies/index.html US Department of Agriculture - National Rabies Management Program]