Known as the world’s deadliest virus, rabies has an almost 100% mortality rate once symptoms develop. While there is no cure, there are effective vaccines. However, these are not readily available for vulnerable and minority communities, meaning that rabies is still a huge threat to survival. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s World Rabies Day?

👉 Official Name: World Rabies Day
💚 Cause: Raise awareness of rabies and work to eradicate the disease
📅 Next Date: September 28, 2026
🌐 Official Website: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-rabies-day
🐦 Hashtag: #WorldRabiesDay

Keep on reading to find out all the important information about World Rabies Day at a glance, including its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.

The Most Important Information About World Rabies Day at a Glance

1️⃣ The big picture: World Rabies Day is an annual event to raise awareness about rabies prevention and to highlight the progress made in tackling this deadly disease. September 28 also marks the anniversary of the French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine in 1885.

2️⃣ Why it is important: Rabies is present on all continents except Antarctica, causing an estimated 59,000 deaths each year. Although effective rabies vaccines are available, they are often not easily accessible or affordable for people in marginalized communities, making them much more susceptible to the disease. In addition, children aged 5-14 years old are frequent victims, often through dog bites. The global cost of rabies is expected to be around $8.6 billion per year, including medical care and lost lives.

3️⃣ How you can get involved: You can get involved in World Rabies Day by sharing social media messages about rabies, supporting rabies-focused charities and organizations, and fundraising for rabies treatment access:

1. Social media awareness: Spread the word about rabies prevention and what people can do to support the cause. For example, you can post stories, information, and videos to increase engagement. There are also plenty of additional resources you can download and use from the Rabies Alliance website. 
2. Support rabies charities: Donate to, volunteer for, or advocate with charities dedicated to eradicating rabies, such as Mission Rabies and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
3. Fundraise: Organize a fundraising event to raise money for rabies awareness and treatment. You can also register your event with the Rabies Alliance so they can promote your event to a wider audience. 

Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for World Rabies Day:

• Best Charities That Fight for Health Equity
• Best Charities That Help With Medical Bills
• Best Charities Impacting Africa
• Best Charities Impacting Developing Countries

A Brief History of World Rabies Day

When was this event established: World Rabies Day was founded in 2007 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention to provide an opportunity for people and organizations to spread awareness of rabies and understand ways to combat it. 

How has it developed since then: Today, World Rabies Day is a global call to action against rabies, a disease that takes unnecessary lives. Organizations collaborate around the world to achieve their target of complete rabies eradication by 2030 through a One Health Approach and by scaling up vaccination programs.

3 Interesting Facts About World Rabies Day

1. Two types of rabies: 80% of all rabies cases fall under the category of furious rabies. This is characterized by hyperactivity, hallucinations, disorientation, and even a fear of water (hydrophobia) and fresh air (aerophobia). Paralytic rabies accounts for around 20% of human cases, causing gradual muscle weakness leading to paralysis. 
2. Annual themes: Every year, World Rabies Day revolves around a particular theme. For example, past themes have included “Breaking Rabies Boundaries”, “All For 1, One Health For All”, and “One Health, Zero Deaths”.
3. First rabies vaccination: In 1885, a nine-year-old boy named Joseph Meister, was bitten by a rabid dog 14 times. His mother had heard of a scientist called Louis Pasteur who had successfully vaccinated rabid dogs and asked him for help. Initially, Louis was reluctant as his vaccine had only been tested on dogs and rabbits. However, a doctor, Jacques Joseph Grancher, eventually convinced Louis Pasteur to let him administer the treatment. Every day for 10 days, Dr. Grancher administered 12 doses of the vaccine. Less than a month later, the treatment was a resounding success.

Upcoming Dates of World Rabies Day

World Rabies Day is observed every year on September 28.