September 28, 2025
Today, on World Rabies Day, we join global efforts under the powerful theme for 2025: “Act Now: You, Me, Community.”
Rabies is one of the deadliest zoonotic diseases on earth—it is almost 100% fatal once symptoms appear. Yet, it is also 100% preventable. Eliminating human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 (the ‘Zero by 30’ goal) relies not on a single breakthrough, but on the coordinated, collective action of every single individual: you, me, and our communities.
You: The Pet Owner's Crucial Role
The vast majority (around 99%) of human rabies cases are caused by dog bites. This statistic places an immense responsibility squarely on pet owners and animal caretakers.
For pet owners, vaccination is not merely a legal requirement; it is the most significant act of public health stewardship you can perform. When you vaccinate your dog or cat, you are creating a firewall of immunity. Achieving a vaccination coverage of just 70% of the dog population is enough to break the transmission cycle and protect the entire community, including children, who are most often the victims of dog bites.
The Action: Schedule your pet’s annual rabies booster. By protecting your companion animal, you are directly safeguarding human lives.
Me & Community: Protecting the Frontline and the Future
While pet vaccination stops the disease at its source, we must also protect those who work tirelessly on the frontline: veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal handlers, and clinic staff. For these professionals, exposure is a daily occupational hazard.
This is where pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the human rabies vaccine, becomes essential. PrEP simplifies post-exposure treatment dramatically, eliminating the need for Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) and reducing the number of vaccine doses required. It's a non-negotiable layer of safety for anyone whose job involves the risk of animal contact.
IIVER’s Proactive Step: Vaccinating Tomorrow's Vets
We are proud to highlight an initiative that exemplifies the "Me" component of "Act Now": the proactive pre-exposure vaccination program implemented by the International Institute of Veterinary Education and Research (IIVER).
Recognizing the heightened risk students face during their clinical postings, IIVER has mandated and facilitated the rabies PrEP series for all veterinary students before they begin working in the field and clinic environments.
Why this initiative matters:
- Safety First: It provides a critical shield to students and interns who are handling animals with unknown vaccination histories.
- Sets a Standard: It in stills a culture of safety and professionalism, establishing PrEP as a fundamental requirement for anyone working in the veterinary field.
- Community Health: By protecting future veterinarians, IIVER ensures that the personnel responsible for large-scale dog vaccination drives in the community are themselves protected, allowing them to focus entirely on eradication efforts.
This commitment from institutions like IIVER ensures that the next generation of animal health workers is not only skilled but also safely equipped to handle the challenges of rabies elimination.
Act Now: Our Shared Future
World Rabies Day 2025 reminds us that rabies elimination is a unifying goal. It calls for animal health professionals, human health doctors, government officials, educators, and pet owners to take measurable steps today.
Whether you are vaccinating your pet, advocating for better local animal control, or ensuring safety protocols in a clinical setting like IIVER, your action is the difference between life and death. Let's unite under the banner of "Act Now: You, Me, Community" and work together for a rabies-free future.
