Global Events

World Rabies Day 2024: Breaking Rabies Boundaries 

World Rabies Day 2024_Three stray puppies shyly looking away from the camera
9:00am (GMT)

For over 4,000 years, rabies has plagued humans and animals alike, and to this day, it remains one of the deadliest zoonoses.

Marked every 28 September, the theme for this year’s World Rabies Day,
Breaking Rabies Boundaries”, invites us to think outside the box and shatter the barriers that stand in the way of rabies elimination. These include gaps in international cooperation, a lack of access to essential resources (including quality vaccines) and limited public knowledge about the disease. 

What is World Rabies Day?

Since 2007, our longtime partner the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, has marked 28 September as World Rabies Day; the biggest event in rabies awareness.

We celebrate World Rabies Day as an opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for the elimination of the disease worldwide. This year, with the theme, “Breaking Rabies Boundaries”, the Global Alliance for Rabies Control encourages stakeholders, organisations, and people from every walk of life to unite to reach the goal of zero rabies deaths by 2030 #ZeroBy30.

This year’s theme also reminds us that rabies is a transboundary disease that requires transboundary action. Together the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Against Rabies Forum use a One Health approach to bring together governments, vaccine producers, researchers, NGOs and development partners to stop the disease. 

What can you do?

The theme is open to address any boundary to the fight against rabies. It invites us to work together through vaccination campaigns, sharing social media messages, partnering with organisations, advocacy, increasing awareness, or raising money for rabies elimination. Whichever mode of action you choose, your participation will make a difference.

Here are some communication materials you can use and share:   

Every effort counts in breaking rabies boundaries. Join us in making a difference this World Rabies Day.  


Join the conversation with #WorldRabiesDay  

This #WorldRabiesDay, we are talking about the need for humane dog population management. 

#Rabies is one of the deadliest zoonotic diseases, killing 59,000 people each year. Millions of healthy dogs are inhumanely culled out of fear, but this approach doesn’t stop the spread of rabies.

Through responsible pet ownership, vaccination, and veterinary care, we can protect both dogs and people.

#WRD #pet #dogsofinstagram
Your dog's cute but is she vaccinated? 
#WorldRabiesDay
This #WorldRabiesDay, we're shining the spotlight on Namibia 🇳🇦. In the heart of Namibia’s Northern Communal Areas, veterinarians and their teams are using innovative methods and relentless dedication to significantly reduce human rabies cases, marking a remarkable achievement in the ongoing fight against this deadly disease. 

More on the link in our bio.
How important is raising awareness in the fight against #rabies?

@RabiesAlliance’s Terrence Scott explains why it’s “absolutely critical to eliminating the disease.” 

Tap the link in our bio to learn how you can take part in the fight against #rabies on #WorldRabiesDay.