World Rabies Day 2022: One Health, Zero Deaths

World Rabies Day is the biggest event on the global rabies calendar, coordinated by our long time partner, the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) and it has been commemorated every year on September 28 – the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur – since 2007.

World Rabies Day aims to raise awareness and advocate for rabies elimination globally. It is an event designed to be inclusive, uniting people, organisations, and stakeholders across all sectors against rabies – because together we can eliminate rabies! With this concept of togetherness and unity in mind, the theme for this year’s World Rabies Day is:     

Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths 

This year’s theme will focus on One Health, coupled with the reminder of the “Zero by 30” goal and the fact that dog-mediated human rabies elimination is possible. Importantly for rabies, we have a strong global community, we have the tools and the expertise, and we have a goal for the elimination of human deaths from dog-mediated rabies.  

This event is also an opportunity to remind stakeholders that the fight against rabies is not limited to a single day but needs to be conducted in a sustainable way to ultimately decrease the number of rabies deaths. Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Against Rabies Forum takes a multi-sectoral, One Health approach bringing together governments, vaccine producers, researchers, NGOs and development partners. 

What can you do?

Get together with partners or other interested people in your community and start working together towards our goal of Zero by 30 and a better future for all. Under this year’s theme, any rabies elimination work can be undertaken. Celebrate World Rabies Day 2022 with a vaccination campaign, education initiatives, raising awareness or advocating for its elimination. Run dog population management campaigns, organise a competition, or share social media messages with your followers – whatever your activity of choice, under One Health, all walks of life and all partners are equally as important: let’s put  One Health  into practice and eliminate rabies to achieve  Zero Deaths! 

Here are communication materials you can share to support your campaign: 

• GARC resources 
• It’s time to stop avoiding rabies: Video – Dog’s eye view 

#UnitedAgainstRabies #EndRabiesNow #1health4rabies