Prevention with BNTU: World Rabies Day

Rabies is one of the oldest and most dangerous infectious diseases known to humanity. To highlight the importance of preventing this threat, the global community observes World Rabies Day on September 28.

Background: Rabies was described as early as the 3rd millennium BC, with the first written references appearing in Babylonian laws. Little has changed over the millennia: the disease remains fatal, yet it is preventable. The date of September 28 was chosen for World Rabies Day to commemorate Louis Pasteur, the creator of the first rabies vaccine, which was successfully administered in 1885. Science has advanced significantly since then, but the primary goal remains the same: to convey a simple truth to everyone—rabies can be prevented.

In 2026, World Rabies Day is being observed under the slogan "Together We Are Stronger." This serves as a reminder that only by uniting the efforts of medical and veterinary professionals, the state, and each of us can this disease be defeated.

Disease Characteristics and Transmission Mechanism

Rabies is an acute viral infectious disease that affects the central nervous system and is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms appear. The incubation period can range from several weeks to several months; throughout this time, the infected person feels healthy and remains unaware of the threat.

The virus is transmitted via the saliva of an infected animal through bites, scratches, or contact with broken skin or mucous membranes. The most common carriers of the infection are wild predators (foxes, raccoon dogs, and wolves) as well as unvaccinated domestic pets (dogs and cats).

The initial symptoms resemble the flu: fever, headache, and general weakness. Subsequently, anxiety, increased aggression, and hydrophobia—a spasm of the laryngeal muscles when attempting to swallow water—develop. The terminal stage involves paralysis and respiratory failure, leading to death within a few days. Once symptoms appear, it is impossible to save the patient.

A tragic outcome can be prevented only through timely anti-rabies treatment; it is critical to seek medical help within the first 24 hours after contact with a suspected animal.

Epidemiological situation in Belarus

Rabies remains a pressing issue for our country as well. Between January and May 2026, 214 cases of rabies among animals were recorded in Belarus—nearly double the figure for the same period the previous year. The situation is particularly critical in the regions: the incidence rate increased fivefold in the Brest region and ninefold in the Grodno region.

The vast majority of cases (72%) are recorded among wild animals—foxes, raccoon dogs, and wolves. However, domestic dogs and cats with owners account for approximately 25% of infected animals, significantly increasing the risk of the infection spreading within the domestic environment.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the healthcare and veterinary services, not a single case of human rabies has been recorded in the Republic of Belarus since 2012. Healthcare facilities are consistently supplied with the necessary quantities of anti-rabies vaccines, and individuals in high-risk professions (veterinarians, animal control workers, foresters, gamekeepers, and hunters) undergo regular preventive immunization. Nevertheless, the rise in cases among wildlife requires heightened vigilance and adherence to safety measures by every citizen.

Precautions and prevention

Timely and proper prevention is the cornerstone of protection against rabies. To keep yourself and your loved ones safe, it is important to follow these basic rules:

• vaccinate your pets: regular annual vaccination is a mandatory measure that protects the pet, family members, and the public;
• avoid contact with wild and stray animals: healthy wild animals avoid approaching humans, so their appearance in populated areas or unusual behavior signals a possible illness;
• exercise caution when taking in stray animals: if you take in a stray, you must have it examined by a veterinarian and vaccinated as soon as possible;
• notify the appropriate authorities: if you spot a wild or domestic animal behaving abnormally within city limits, contact veterinary services or animal control immediately.

Action plan in the event of an animal bite or contact

If you are injured, scratched, or exposed to saliva on your skin by any animal (even one that appears healthy), you must follow a strict procedure:

1. Immediately wash the affected area with soap and running water for several minutes.
2. Treat the edges of the wound with an alcohol-based antiseptic or a 5% iodine solution.
3. Apply a sterile dressing and seek urgent medical attention at a trauma center or from a surgeon within 24 hours of the incident.
4. If possible, isolate the animal for a 10-day veterinary observation period (if it is a domestic animal). The absence of signs of illness after this period confirms the contact was safe; however, the decision regarding a vaccination course rests solely with the attending physician.
5. Strictly adhere to the prescribed vaccination schedule: interrupting the course of injections or violating medical instructions (including consuming alcohol) negates the protective effect, whereas the vaccine remains the only defense against this deadly virus.

The 2026 motto, "Together We Are Stronger," is not merely a slogan but a reminder that the fight against rabies requires everyone's participation—from doctors and veterinarians to ordinary citizens. The global "United Against Rabies" plan sets an ambitious goal: to eliminate human deaths from this disease by 2030.

Achieving this result is entirely possible if we remember that safety always begins with small steps. Stopping rabies is possible, but it can only be done through collective effort.

State Institution "Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Sovetsky District, Minsk"

Центр гигиены и эпидемиологии Советского района г. Минска