Dog-mediated disease 99.9% fatal to humans, 100% preventable with vaccination
Vets Beyond Borders to host Australia’s #WorldRabiesDay event online(Interview Series-style video production)
For #WorldRabiesDay (September 28) , Australian-based international animalcharity Vets Beyond Borders (VBB) is collaborating with global organisationsand experts in an exciting online event to raise awareness about the danger ofrabies and the importance of vaccinating animals to reduce the incidence ofthis deadly viral disease.
Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the origins of viral diseases andanimal-to-human transmission have become hot topics. Every year almost 60,000people die from dog-mediated rabies – tragically children are greatly over-represented, comprising 40% of fatalities in Asia and Africa¹.
“Rabies can infect any mammalian species and is almost invariably lethal oncesymptoms develop, but thankfully it’s 100% preventable in humans and animalsthrough vaccination,” said Dr Ian Douglas, Director and Chair of Vets BeyondBorders.
“Australia is very fortunate that the rabies virus is not yet present in itsanimal populations. However, it’s important to bring this deadly disease topublic attention, as Australians are the world’s second most frequenttravellers² and many have little understanding of the disease.”
The virus is typically spread through contact with the saliva of infectedanimals, most commonly as a result of dog-bite injury. Global Alliance forRabies Control (GARC) has estimated that more than 5.5 billion people live atdaily risk of rabies infection.
VBB World Rabies Day Online Interview Series
World Rabies Day was established and is coordinated by GARC. For the WorldRabies Day 2020 Australian event, VBB is hosting an online interview series ofinternational animal welfare and public health experts on the topics ofrabies; collaborating and vaccinating to prevent human deaths caused by caninerabies and the challenges faced following the advent of COVID-19.
VBB’s World Rabies Day production will feature experts from organisationsaround the world, such as GARC, WHO, International Fund for Animal Welfare(IFAW), World Animal Protection, and Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer andPresident of the World Organisation for Animal Health, Dr Mark Schipp, amongothers.
Image: Vets Beyond Borders
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