Rabies

Animal Rabies

©Daniel Stewart

Many dogs throughout the world receive rabies shots and some wildlife species are immunized orally using vaccine-loaded baits.

It is estimated that at least 50 million dogs are vaccinated each year against rabies either in private practices or during national campaigns organized by ministries of health or agriculture.

However, in many parts of Asia and Africa the vaccination coverage established in the dog population (30% to 50%) is not high enough to break the transmission cycle of the disease.

WHO strategies for dog rabies control and eventual elimination


WHO promotes

  • organization of sustainable mass dog vaccination campaigns;
  • dog population management through reduction of strays, control of trade and movement of dogs, reduction of populations through spaying and neutering;
  • public health education strategies.

Oral vaccination of domestic carnivores


As dog accessibility to vaccination by the parenteral route is one of the major obstacles for dog rabies control in many different parts of the world, WHO stimulated studies on oral vaccination of dogs (OVD) and the development of safer and effective vaccines and baits for OVD.

28 September 2012
World Rabies Day

World Rabies Day 2008

Read here about the first World Rabies Day in 2007.

WHO recommends the intradermal route for post-exposure prophylaxis

in all places where rabies vaccines are in short supply

Pre & Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

WHO's presentation on Pre & Post exposure prophylaxis.