SANTA FE — Sept. 28 is World Rabies Day, a time to raise awareness about the importance of rabies vaccinations.
Rabies kills over 70,000 people a year worldwide, including some 30,000 children, mostly as a result of dog bites. In the U.S., human deaths caused by rabies remain rare, typically occurring only a few times each year. This is due to vaccination efforts and the availability of post-exposure vaccines for individuals who come into contact with potentially rabid animals.
“Before the 1960s, most animal rabies cases in the U.S. were in dogs, but thanks to vaccination efforts, over 90% are in wildlife now,” State Public Health Veterinarian for the New Mexico Department of Health Erin Phipps, DVM, MPH, said. “Rabies is nearly 100% fatal but is 100% preventable. World Rabies Day is a good reminder to contact your veterinarian for a checkup and vaccines.”
In 2023, New Mexico reported 16 cases of rabies in animals, while there have been nine cases so far in 2024.
Sept. 28 is a great day to check when your dog, cat, or horse was last vaccinated. Vaccinating your pets protects them and helps create a barrier between potentially rabid wildlife and your family. This is important even if your cat is strictly indoors or your dog stays within a fenced yard, as rabid wildlife can still enter these spaces and interact with your pets.
Visit www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/ideb/zdp/rab/ for more information about rabies and how to prevent it.
