Rabies
in humans is 100% preventable through prompt appropriate medical
care. Yet, more than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia,
die from rabies every year - a rate of one person every ten
minutes. The most important global source of rabies in humans is
from uncontrolled rabies in dogs. Children are often at greatest
risk from rabies. They are more likely to be bitten by dogs, and
are also more likely to be severely exposed through multiple
bites in high-risk sites on the body. Severe exposures make it
more difficult to prevent rabies unless access to good medical
care is immediately available. This major source of rabies in
humans can be eliminated through ensuring adequate animal
vaccination and control, educating those at risk, and enhancing
access of those bitten to appropriate medical care.
In 2006, a group of researchers and professionals formed the
Alliance for Rabies
Control. They began inviting partners to join the World Rabies
Day initiative. The inaugural World Rabies Day initiative now
involves human and animal health partners at the international,
national, state/provincial, and local levels, veterinary,
medical and other specialized professional and student
organizations, and corporate and non-profit partners. The goal
of this outreach is to mobilize awareness and resources in
support of human rabies prevention and animal rabies control. We
hope to engage at least 55,000 people to take action on World
Rabies Day, one for each person whose death each year can be
prevented.
Please join us with our event at Mississippi State University
to help raise funds for the World Alliance for Rabies and the
JOSH project!