This year’s World Rabies Day theme is: “Act now: You, Me, Community”.
28 September this year will mark the 19th World Rabies Day. This year’s “Act now: you, me, communities” is calling on you, me, and our communities to take responsibility, work together, and drive real change. For the first time in its 19-year history, WRD’s theme does not include the word “rabies”, showing how well-established this movement has become. Whether you are an individual, part of an organization, or a decision-maker, the time to act is today.
What Does the Theme Mean?
- You – Take action in your personal life: vaccinate your dog, educate yourself about how to prevent rabies and Pre- and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, or advocate for better policies.
- Me – Lead by example: inspire others, train professionals, or support rabies elimination efforts in your community.
- Community – Work together: organize vaccination campaigns, educate learners and their families, and push for stronger rabies elimination programs.
Our call to Act Now is the difference between life and death. As a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), rabies disproportionately affects underserved communities, mainly in Africa and Asia. Every nine minutes, rabies claims another victim, but death is 100% preventable. When we work together, eliminating this disease for good relies on all of us acting now!
Key Highlights for 2025
Focus on Community Engagement
Awareness about dog bite prevention and what to do in the event of a dog bite is critical. Rabies need not be fatal if all the post exposure steps are taken. WHO has developed a series of education films to support community understanding. The films are aimed at different audiences. For children, the focus is how to behave responsibly around dogs and the importance of telling an adult if they are bitten or scratched by an animal. For parents, teachers and the community a second film focuses on the critical importance of immediate wound washing in the event of a bite. For community health workers, the third film highlights the important steps to be taken prior to seeking further clinical advice.
Rabies Integrated into Gavi 5.0
In a major milestone for global rabies elimination efforts, rabies was included in Gavi’s 5.0 vaccine investment strategy. Five countries — Tanzania, Madagascar, Côte d’Ivoire, Yemen, and Syria — have already successfully applied for support. Planning is now underway to assist these countries with program rollout.
Integrated Bite Case Management (IBCM) Flyer and Checklist Launched
A new IBCM flyer and checklist has been developed as a practical, how-to guide to IBCM. The checklist offers clear process for IBCM, outlining the main benefits as well as the pre-requisites with practical information for countries on how to prepare for IBCM.
Global Health Observatory Updated
The WHO Global Health Observatory has been updated to include newly available rabies data, supporting data-driven policy and programming. This platform offers a clearer picture of global progress and remaining gaps in data and surveillance.
Rabies Today Podcast
WHO is a founding partner of United Against Rabies Forum have There are a range of resources available including Series 2 of the Rabies Today Podcast which can be found here. This series focused on a range of challenges tackling rabies in conflict affected environments and the importance of raising awareness in endemic and non-endemic countries.
The 2025 theme for World Rabies Day “Act Now: You, Me, Community,” is a powerful call for shared responsibility and immediate action and reinforces that rabies prevention is not a siloed effort. It is a shared responsibility across the pillars of human health, animal health, including vaccinating dogs and community engagement. By acting together, we can eliminate this preventable disease once and for all.
How Can You Act Now?
- Host an event – Organize a rabies awareness campaign, a school workshop, or a local vaccination drive.
- Nominate a rabies hero – Submit a nomination for the World Rabies Day Awards to celebrate individuals already making a difference.
- Learn and share – Take one of WHO’’s free online courses and spread awareness in your network.
- Raise your voice – Share messages on social media, talk to local leaders, or host a discussion in your community.
You can be part of the solution! Act Now: You, Me, Community is more than a theme: it is a call to action that will save lives.
Join us in making World Rabies Day 2025 the most impactful yet. What will you do to Act Now?