Editorial for World Rabies Day – September 28
Building Readiness, Ending Rabies: A Call to Action on World Rabies Day
Joint Statement of the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the World Medical Association (WMA)
Today, on World Rabies Day, we come together under the theme “You, Me, Community.”, a very pertinent theme and campaign put together by our partners The Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC). Rabies is one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases, but also one of the most preventable. Every year, nearly 59,000 people die from rabies[1], most of them children in vulnerable communities. This suffering is unnecessary: rabies is 100% preventable through vaccination, education, and responsible animal care.
This year, the publication of the WHO Rabies Vaccine Readiness Assessment Tool provides governments with an invaluable framework to evaluate and address gaps in vaccina supply, delivery and equitable access, as well as strengthening their prevention and response systems, ensuring National Action Plans are well-prepared and effective and securing sustainable financing and ensuring coordination across human, animal, and environmental health. . These tools come in support of the global “Zero by 30” goal, which aims to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.
Veterinarians recognize that prevention begins with animals, particularly dogs, which are the primary source of human rabies infections. Physicians see the human toll when prevention fails. Together, we affirm that rabies elimination requires collective action:animal health professionals, human health professionals, governments, and communities working side by side. This is the true spirit of One Health, and it is the mission that the WVA and WMA are proud to embrace.
Evidence shows that dog vaccination is the single most effective strategy to interrupt rabies transmission. When combined with timely access to post-exposure post-bite prophylaxis, responsible pet ownership, and community education[2], rabies can be consigned to history. To reach this goal, however, countries must strengthen their readiness and capacity to prevent and respond to rabies risks.
The Tool and accompanying Guide set an important step forward. Developed to support countries in evaluating their preparedness for the introduction and rollout of human rabies vaccines, it provides a structured, standardized framework across seven domains: planning and coordination, funding, training, integration, monitoring and supervision, cold chain and logistics, and advocacy, community engagement, and social mobilization. The tool guides situation analysis, the creation of national readiness macroplans, the preparation of subnational microplans, and access to resources for effective implementation. By helping countries identify strengths, gaps, and priority actions, it ensures rabies vaccines reach those who need them most—safely, effectively, and on time.
On this World Rabies Day, the WVA and WMA call on governments to join this community of eradication and
- Integrate rabies prevention into national and regional action plans, with clear targets and dedicated resources.
- Expand access to safe, effective vaccines for both dogs and people, particularly in high-burden regions.
- Strengthen the training and deployment of health professionals—veterinarians, physicians, and community health workers—to work collaboratively under a One Health approach.
- Promote educational initiatives that prevent dog bites and build community-level resilience.
With strong political commitment, sustained funding, and cross-sector collaboration, we can achieve zero human rabies deaths.
Together—you, me, and our global community—we can end rabies.
You can also visit the United Against Rabies website for more information, tools, and resources to support rabies prevention efforts – UAR, is a partnership of WHO, FAO, WOAH and GARC, focused on the global “Zero by 30” target.
[1] WHO, Rabies Fact Sheet (2023): https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies
[2] WVA Position Statement on Dog mediated rabies
