World Zoonoses Day: Australia in global effort to eliminate rabies

The National Tribune
Jul 06, 2023

World Zoonoses Day: Australia in global effort to eliminate rabies


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.