The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran joined national authorities and partners to mark World Rabies Day 2026 at a national conference in Tehran.
Observed annually on 28 September, World Rabies Day raises awareness of rabies prevention and promotes action against one of the world’s deadliest yet preventable zoonotic diseases. This year’s theme, “Stronger Together”, emphasizes that preventing human deaths from rabies and advancing efforts towards its elimination requires coordinated multisectoral action and sustained collaboration across the human health, animal health, municipal, community and other sectors.
The conference brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Iran Veterinary Organization, Pasteur Institute of Iran, High Council for Health and Food Security, medical universities and other national stakeholders to strengthen multisectoral collaboration and discuss priorities for rabies prevention and control.
The unveiling of the National Strategic Plan for Eliminating Human Mortality from Dog-Mediated Rabies by 2030, together with national implementation guidelines and a roadmap for rabies elimination, were among the highlights of the event. The initiative supports the global Zero by 30 goal of ending human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
Addressing the conference, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Jean Jabbour emphasized that rabies is almost entirely preventable despite being nearly always fatal once symptoms develop. “This is precisely why rabies belongs, and must remain, at the centre of our One Health agenda. We cannot vaccinate our way to elimination from the human health side alone. Durable control depends on sustained dog vaccination coverage, humane and effective management of stray dog populations, and – above all – close routine collaboration between human health services and environmental health and veterinary services, exactly the kind of integration this year's theme calls for,” he said.
