2016: the beginning of the end of rabies?

Overview

Sept 28 is the tenth annual World Rabies Day. It is a date that commemorates the anniversary of the 1895 death of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first human rabies vaccine.

Modern effective vaccines, combined with other interventions, the necessary political will, and community awareness make the disease 100% preventable. Yet, an estimated 59 000 people still die from the disease every year. World Rabies Day is thus an uncomfortable reminder for the global health community of the ongoing neglect of this disease. The theme for 2016 is “Educate. Vaccinate. Eliminate”, a slogan that emphasises the pillars of rabies prevention and the vision to end human rabies deaths.