The Disease Behind 59,000 Deaths Every Year: World Rabies Day
Today is World Rabies Day, a reminder that rabies still kills an estimated 59,000 people every year.
A nine-year-old girl in India was one of them.
She was bitten by a dog near her home in India.
The girl was afraid of the anti-rabies injection and did not receive treatment after the bite.
Five months later, she developed rabies and died.
Rabies kills dogs, too.
The virus attacks the brain and nervous system, causing confusion, agitation, seizures, and paralysis.
Once symptoms appear, there is no cure.
Dogs are responsible for up to 99% of rabies cases in people.
More than 95% of human rabies deaths occur in Africa and Asia, and about half of those who die are children under 15.
World Rabies Day 2026 is centered on “Stronger Together,” with a focus on expanding dog vaccination, improving rabies surveillance, and helping communities prevent the disease.
Here are 4 ways you can help protect dogs from rabies:
1. Keep dogs vaccinated
The World Health Organization (WHO) says vaccinating at least 70% of dogs in areas where rabies is present can control the disease in dogs.
Protecting dogs through vaccination protects the dogs themselves from a fatal disease and reduces the risk of transmission to people.
Make sure dogs in your care receive their rabies vaccinations on schedule and keep their vaccination records up to date.
2. Act quickly after a bite or scratch
A dog bitten or scratched by another animal should receive veterinary attention as soon as possible.
Clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water while arranging care.
Anyone bitten or scratched by an animal should also wash the wound immediately and seek medical attention.
Prompt treatment after exposure can prevent rabies from developing.
3. Help vaccinate dogs without guardians
Street dogs are often missed by routine veterinary services because no guardian is there to take them for care.
Support vaccination campaigns that go into communities and vaccinate homeless dogs where they live.
Encourage local programs to include these dogs in their rabies prevention efforts.
WHO identifies mass dog vaccination as the most effective way to stop rabies at its source.
4. Help prevent more puppies from being born into homelessness
Large numbers of puppies continue to enter street populations every year.
Many grow up without regular access to vaccination and veterinary care.
Those dogs remain vulnerable to rabies and other diseases.
Preventing unwanted litters reduces the number of puppies entering homelessness and gives communities fewer dogs to protect in the years ahead.
Vaccinating dogs protects them from rabies.
Preventing unwanted births means fewer dogs growing up without rabies vaccination and veterinary care.
This is why our mission is to end the #1 cause of suffering and death for dogs and cats — overpopulation — by developing a permanent-lasting birth control cookie that will only need to be eaten one time, and it will in effect spay or neuter — without surgery.
With your help, we will end this suffering.
Thank you for caring and for helping animals!
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