Today is World Zoonoses Day, and Australia is focused on the global fight against rabies, through regional support for Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Pacific.

Zoonoses are diseases that can jump from animals to humans like rabies, Ebola, avian influenza and COVID-19. Every year at least 59,000 people die from dog-mediated rabies globally-with over 96% of human cases caused by dog bite of a rabies virus-infected dog.

Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Mark Schipp, said Australia is rabies-free, and is working with neighbouring countries to increase rabies preparedness, surveillance, diagnostic testing, and response initiatives.