World Rabies Day: Association aims for record books

International Report

-- As part of World Rabies Day, the Sacramento Valley Veterinary Medical Association hopes that 10 free rabies vaccine clinics will net some 3,300 dogs and cats. If they achieve it, organizers say it will be one for the Guinness Book of World Records.

In fact, the association's hook: "Vaccinate your dog for free, help break a record."

And it's just one event planned in 120 countries in a worldwide public education push designed to capture the attention of an estimated 25 million people. More importantly, organizers believe that more than 1.5 million animals will be vaccinated this year as a result.

Founded by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Alliance for Rabies Control, World Rabies Day hopes to bring together all the stakeholders to wipe out this zoonotic disease. Despite vaccination attempts, CDC reports that some 30,000 to 40,000 people still receive post-exposure prophylaxis each year. And it's a disease estimated at killing 55,000 people worldwide each year.

As part of today's activities, the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and CDC are hosting a series of webinars featuring leaders in veterinary medicine and public health. For more information go to www.worldrabiesday.org.

Here are some other noteworthy activities and donations associated with World Rabies Day:

The 3rd Annual Merial Rabies Symposium was at Tufts University on Sept. 25. The symposium featured Jim Steele, DVM, MPH, a pioneer in the field of veterinary public health.

Merial also provided veterinarians with Rabies Awareness Kits that included: An educational mini-book for clients in waiting or exam rooms, in-clinic window clings, client educational brochures on canine, feline and equine rabies and other materials.

Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health continues its program to donate rabies vaccine through its "Health for the Seregenti" program.

Pfizer donated 50,000 doses of its vaccine for the Alliance for Rabies Control's Shelter Outreach Program.