World Rabies Day: 28 September 2026
Authors: Sharon Namasambi1*, Pauline Achom1, Martha Dorcus Nalweyiso1, Patrick Pithua1 Institutional affiliation: 1Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda *Correspondence: Email: nabsharon@uniph.go.ug; Tel: +256772511067
Rabies remains a significant public health concern in many countries despite the availability of effective vaccines for both humans and animals.
The global community will commemorate the world Rabies Day is on 28 September to raise awareness about rabies prevention and control while promoting efforts to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies.
The day recognizes the importance of collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health sectors in addressing this preventable disease.
The commemoration advocates for responsible pet ownership, mass dog vaccination, timely post-exposure prophylaxis, and increased public awareness to reduce the burden of rabies. Communities, veterinary services, healthcare providers, and policymakers are encouraged to strengthen rabies prevention efforts, promote vaccination of dogs and other susceptible animals, and ensure timely access to life-saving treatment for individuals exposed to rabies.
