World Rabies Day, 28 September 2020

World Rabies Day is held each year on 28 September, the anniversary of Louis Pasteur’s death. Created and co-ordinated annually by Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), World Rabies Day aims to increase awareness of the disease and its prevention.

This year’s theme focuses on vaccination and collaboration, reminding health care practitioners and members of the public that the key current issues in rabies elimination are:

• the goal of ‘Zero by 30’, the global strategic plan to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 
• the importance of dog vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis 
• the need for a united effort towards achieving elimination of this transboundary disease

The TRAVAX rabies and rabies FAQ pages give information to health professionals on the disease and pre-exposure vaccination, while the post-exposure rabies guidance page provides information on where to seek advice when rabies post-exposure management is required. Information for the general public is available on the fitfortravel website.