No more deaths from rabies

What is rabies?

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. The virus is present in the saliva and brain of infected animals.
Rabies is transmitted by the bite of a diseased animal – most commonly a dog.
The incubation period is variable, from several days to several months.
Once the symptoms appear, the disease is always fatal, in animals as well as in humans.

For further disease information, consult the following OIE resources:

Disease page FAQ on Rabies Technical Disease Card

Nearly 60,000 deaths per year worldwide

Rabies is one of the most deadly zoonoses. Each year, it kills as many as 60,000 people worldwide.
Every fifteen minutes, somewhere in the world, someone dies of rabies.
Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, most often a dog.
Once the symptoms appear, the disease is always fatal, in animals as well as in humans.
Rabies especially affects children in developing countries.

Whenever a human is bitten by a domestic or wild animal, there must be an investigation. It is essential to report the incident to a doctor and to a veterinarian, who will then take the appropriate measures.

For further information, consult:

the WHO Fact Sheet on Rabies

2/3 of the countries in the world are still affected

Rabies is present on all continents.
Africa and Asia are the hardest hit.
Surveillance and reporting of rabies cases detected on national territories via the OIE World Animal Health Information System are essential to disease control.

The OIE develops science-based standards and guidelines to control the disease in animals and prevent its spread.

They have helped certain countries to eradicate the disease, thanks to the implementation of stringent sanitary measures. In other countries, rabies remains present in dogs and/or in wild animals (e.g. bats).

For further information on the distribution of animal rabies in the world, consult:

the OIE World Animal Health Information System

Over 95% of human cases of rabies are due to dog bites

The overwhelming majority of human cases are due to bites by infected dogs.
The disease is mainly transmitted through bites.

Any bite by a domestic or wild animal must be investigated. It is essential to report the incident to a doctor and to a veterinarian, who will then take the appropriate measures.

For further disease information, consult the OIE portal following documents:

Rabies Portal FAQ on Rabies

Nearly 100% of human rabies cases are preventable

There are three ways to prevent human rabies:

Preventive vaccination of humans
Administration of anti-rabies serum after being bitten by a dog presumed rabid
Mass vaccination of dogs in infected zones, the only long-term solution for ending the disease's animal-man transmission cycle.

A very marked drop in the number of human rabies cases could be obtained through the elimination of canine rabies. To that end, mass dog vaccination campaigns are required, associated with information campaigns aimed at local populations and improved access to human health care (vaccines and anti-rabies sera).

Effective control of stray dog populations and responsible behaviour on the part of dog owners should be promoted in order to decrease the number of human cases.

To learn about the work of the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), visit their website.

Vaccinate at least 70% of dogs

The eradication of canine rabies is the only way to end the disease's animal-human transmission cycle. The absence of rabies in dogs means the almost total elimination of human cases.
Dog vaccination is the preferred method for the control and elimination of rabies in the world.
To be effective, vaccination campaigns must cover at least 70% of the dog population in zones where rabies is present.
The surveillance and declaration of cases of rabies detected on national territories via the OIE's World Animal Health Information (WAHIS) are indispensable for disease control.

For further information, consult:

the Terrestrial Animal Health Code the OIE World Animal Health Information System

A cost nearly 10 times lower than that of human prophylaxis

It has been estimated that only 10% of the financial resources used in emergency treatment for people bitten by dogs would be sufficient to national Veterinary Services the world over to eradicate canine rabies and thus prevent nearly all human cases (around 60,000 deaths per year at present).
The OIE publishes international standards on diagnosis and control of the disease, the production of quality veterinary vaccines, and the control of stray dog populations.

For further information, consult:

The OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code The Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals

A shared FAO/OIE/WHO commitment

In most cases, rabies is transmitted to humans via bites by infected dogs. The control and eradication of rabies in humans and domestic animals requires tackling the disease at its animal source, in dogs.

That is why the tripartite alliance between the World Health Organisation (WHO), the OIE and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) considers the elimination of canine rabies to be a world public good, and has made the eradication of rabies one of its three priorities.

In 2018, a global strategic plan to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 was launched by the United Against Rabies Collaboration, which involves four partners: the OIE, WHO, FAO and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC).

For further information, consult:

The "One Health" portal FAO/OIE/WHO cooperation The global strategic plan Zero by 30

OIE Regional Vaccine Banks

Support for developing countries is essential.
With the financial support of the European Union, Australia, Germany, France, Canada and Japan, the OIE World Animal Health and Welfare Fund has already enabled various steps to be taken, such as the creation of an anti-rabies dog vaccine bank in 2012 and regular deliveries mainly to Asia's and Africa's poorest countries.
To date (Aug. 2019), 22.2 million doses of anti-rabies vaccines have been disseminated by the OIE.
- Of these, 6 million have been directly delivered by the OIE to 22 countries to aid their national vaccination programmes.
- An additional 16.2 million doses have been ordered by countries or international organisations.
  - 15.3 million doses of rabies vaccines were purchased by WHO through the OIE Rabies Vaccine Bank for delivery to the Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania and Central African Republic and Pakistan.
This model guarantees:
- the availability of high-quality vaccines complying with OIE intergovernmental Standards;
- their smooth delivery on the ground;
- a price obtained after a global competition between potential providers.
Vaccine banks help to achieve economies of scale and improved effectiveness and coverage, thus facilitating the implementation of large-scale regional and national rabies control programmes.

For further information, consult:

OIE Regional Vaccine Banks Success stories

The “Blueprint” for rabies prevention and control

The Blueprint for Rabies Prevention and Control has been developed by global rabies experts, with the support of the OIE, to serve as a guide for countries that would like to prevent human rabies by eliminating canine rabies within their borders.
It contains information on rabies prevention, field data and case studies, thus giving deep insight into the prevention of human rabies and the elimination of canine rabies.

For further information on the Blueprint initiative, visit :

the GARC's dedicated website

Take part in the World Rabies Day

Each year, on 28 September, the international community unites to promote the fight against rabies.
The World Rabies Day is a day of activism and awareness.
For you, it is an opportunity to join the world movement to put an end to the intolerable suffering caused by rabies. Organise or take part in an event near you.

For further information, visit:

the Global Alliance for Rabies Control's dedicated web page

Share information

By sharing this infographic on the social networks, you will become a player in the fight against rabies.
Because today, each additional death is one victim too many.

To share more:

Discover the OIE's videos devoted to the worldwide fight against rabies