Each year, the VVMA partners with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to sponsor a statewide rabies awareness effort. September 25-October 1 has been designated as 2023 Rabies Awareness Week. Download the official 2023 Rabies Awareness Week poster above and promote it in your practice!

Rabies, at a glance:

  • Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories
  • Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans
  • Interrupting transmission is feasible through vaccination of dogs and prevention of dog bites
  • Globally rabies causes an estimated cost of US$ 8.6 billion per year
  • 40% of people bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age
  • Immediate, thorough wound washing with soap and water after contact with a suspect rabid animal is crucial and can save lives
  • Engagement of multiple sectors and One Health collaboration including community education, awareness programs and vaccination campaigns are critical
  • WHO leads the collective “United Against Rabies” to drive progress towards "Zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030"


World Rabies Day is held on September 28th every year with hundreds of thousands of people organizing or participating in events and activities to celebrate rabies prevention efforts and unite against rabies. Whether you’re a veterinarian, a medical professional, a teacher, a dog-lover or even someone who just
cares about your community, it is a chance to organize or take part in an event that raises awareness about rabies and its prevention.

It is the first and only global advocacy, education, and awareness campaign for rabies. It has the support of all international health organizations and major stakeholders including the WHO, OIE, FAO and the US CDC, among many others.

To date it has reached over 150 million people with rabies prevention messages and re-initiated rabies prevention in many parts of the world. World Rabies Day continues to reach new audiences: in 2022 almost 290 events were registered on the GARC website, from 62 countries.

For 2023, the World Rabies Day theme is Rabies: All for 1, One Health for all.



Virginia Department of Health (VDH) - Rabies Fact Sheet
Virginia Department of Health (VDH) - Rabies Control
VVMA - Rabies Awareness Video
VVMA - Rabies Awareness Podcast featuring Dr. Julia Murphy
AVMA - Rabies: Simple Steps Save Lives Video
AVMA - Rabies Pamphlet
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) - World Rabies Day
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) - National Rabies Management Program

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