AHI Recognizes World Rabies Day, September 28

Veterinarians know that keeping pets vaccinated against rabies is the foundation of responsible pet ownership. Rabies is a potentially fatal zoonotic disease, meaning that it can travel between animals and humans. Vaccinating animals has proven to be the most effective way to stop the spread of rabies, and the rabies vaccine for pets is an undeniable public health success story.

Yet around the world, rabies still kills nearly 59,000 annually, many of them children under the age of 15 in underserved areas of Asia and Africa. Here in the U.S., 1.4 million Americans receive healthcare for a possible rabies exposure each year.

Every single one of these deaths and post-exposure treatments are preventable, which is why administering the vaccine to dogs is a global public health priority.

Zoonotic diseases like rabies make up 60% of all human infectious diseases [CDC]. Vaccination stops disease at the source, reduces the risk of spillover, and is cost-effective. The world spends over $200 billion each year responding to zoonotic disease outbreaks. Yet preventive actions, including animal surveillance and vaccination, would cost just a fraction—around $20 billion globally.

On World Rabies Day (September 28), AHI reiterates its commitment to working with animal health experts around the world to protect animal health, strengthen public health, and reduce the threat of zoonotic diseases like rabies.