The problem of rabies

An estimated 59,000 people die of rabies every year, primarily in poor rural communities in Africa and Asia. Almost all of them contracted rabies from a dog infected with the rabies virus.

Rabies has the highest fatality rate of any disease and around 40% of those who die from rabies’ agonizing symptoms are children. Reporting of these deaths is extremely poor as rabies has its highest impacts in the most neglected populations, farthest from medical and veterinary services.

Yet the disease is entirely preventable. We have safe and effective vaccines to protect people, animals and their livestock from rabies, even if they have already been exposed to the virus. These deaths are all preventable.

Vaccinated dogs protect their communities from the threat of rabies and with sustained vaccination, the disease can be eliminated. We have examples where this has been achieved, even in the places where it was once thought too difficult.

The Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) exists to end the inequality that allows neglected communities to continue to suffer from an ancient and terrifying, but completely preventable, disease.