Before the emergence of the newest animal-borne disease, Covid-19, the world was in the last mile of eliminating one of the oldest animal-borne diseases – rabies. For around 4 000 years, humanity has been contending with this infectious disease which has the highest case fatality rate of any conventional infectious agent at close to 100%.

The aim of World Rabies Day is to raise awareness about the impact of human and animal rabies, how easy it is to prevent it, and how to eliminate the main global sources.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease (a disease which people can get from animals) and it is caused by a virus which affects the brain and causes death. The virus is shed in saliva and is spread by the bite of an infected animal.

Guest:Dr Nomfundo Mnisi - Vice-President of the South African Veterinary Council