Rabies is an ancient neurological disease caused mainly by the rabies virus (RABV) and is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms develop. Rabies is one of the oldest infectious diseases and has been known to mankind for more than 4000 years. Currently, rabies continues to pose a serious public health threat in most areas of the world, especially in the developing countries of Asia and Africa. It has been estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) that more than 55,000 annual human deaths are caused by rabies, through bites of rabid animals, worldwide. Rabies claims the lives of an estimated 59,000 people each year.

Rabies is a classic “One Health” challenge, more than 99% of these deaths arise from exposure to a rabid dog. Fortunately, rabies can be a vaccine-preventable disease, provided that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is given promptly and correctly. Vaccines exist to prevent canine rabies as do human vaccines, which are the primary component of postexposure prophylactic (PEP) regimens after a dog bite. Currently, rabies-infected dogs are the major reason for the high incidence of human rabies, and therefore vaccinating dogs has been shown to be the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in humans. As reported by the WHO, vaccination coverage of 70% of the canine population can efficiently reduce virus transmission and prevent human rabies.

For the first time the World Health Organization (WHO) along with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) have set the goal of “Zero by 2030.” All these four organization together have made a joint force called United Against Rabies collaboration; and conducting many activities since 2015 to reach the goal of zero dog-mediated death by 2030. We are not directly related to these activities. But as being directly related to the issue of veterinary education and profession; and being the responsible member of our society; it becomes our responsibility to do what we can for the good of all.

Falling annually on 28 September (the anniversary of Louis Pasteur’s death), World Rabies Day (WRD) has been remarkably successful in promoting rabies initiatives across the world. The principal objective of WRD remains advocacy and its main   achievement: the generation of widespread awareness of rabies and its true burden. The theme of this year’s world rabies day is “All for One, One Health for All.”

On the very occasion; Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Fisheries (FAVF); under Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU); in collaboration with Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) and Nepal Veterinary Students’ Association (NVSA)  successfully conducted various programs with the aim of raising awareness against rabies among general public. The program co-ordinator for ‘RABIES WEEK 2023’ was Ms. Nikita Maskey, a veterinary student from eighth semester (fourth year). The list of the programs that were carried on are as follows;

Anti-Rabies Vaccination details;

Many dogs and cats owned by locals along with stray dogs were vaccinated at various places as;

One Health Nepal, Vet-Saw, and IVSA were given 50 doses of vaccine each, with total dose of 150.

The school awareness campaign included four different schools named Grandy, Small Heaven, Usha and Chitrawan school.

On 28^th September, World Rabies Day 2023, we ended the grand celebration of the week with Street Drama entitled ‘SWARGA KO NYALAYA’ at Narayani kinar, Bharatpur, Chitwan.

We would like to thank Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Nepal Veterinary Students’ Association (NVSA), and all the helping hands for making this programme grand and successful.

Some glimpses of the activities;