Media Advisory

First World Rabies Day to be Observed at CDC

CDC's World Rabies Day Symposium and Expo includes experts and an appearance by the first human rabies survivor in the United States.

WHAT:

The CDC World Rabies Day Symposium and Expo is one of many events being planned in at least 45 countries around the world in observance of World Rabies Day. In the United States, at least 40 individual events are taking place and are primarily focused at the country′s 26 colleges of veterinary medicine. These events include vaccination clinics, runs, walks, concerts, festivals and educational seminars.

The CDC event will feature international rabies experts, Ms. Jeanna Giese (the first rabies survivor, who is now 17 years old), the Giese family, and her physician, Dr. Rodney Willoughby. Discussions will focus on the numerous successes domestically in the prevention, control, and treatment of rabies and will also address the domestic and international challenges of this preventable but deadly viral disease.

WHEN:

Friday, September 7th 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road NE Atlanta, GA 30329 Tom Harkin Global Communications Center (Building 19)

WHY:

Rabies in humans is completely preventable through prompt appropriate medical care. However, more than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia, die from rabies every year -- a rate of one person every 10 minutes. The most important global source of rabies in humans is from uncontrolled rabies in dogs.

Background:

The World Rabies Day Initiative was founded by the CDC and the Alliance for Rabies Control, a United Kingdom based charity. The initiative aims to bring together all of the important stakeholders towards the common objective of human rabies prevention and animal rabies control in observance of World Rabies Day, on September 8th.

Events are scheduled throughout September and October.

Some of the international partners are: The World Organization for Animal Health (Office International des Epizooties (OIE)) and the World Health Organization are co-supporters of the World Rabies Day initiative. Other partners include the World Society for the Protection of Animals, the World Veterinary Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the British Veterinary Association, the Commonwealth Veterinary Association, Student Chapters of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA), and numerous other professional organizations throughout the world.

Registration is for the CDC Symposium is FREE and open to the public: http://conferences.taskforce.org/worldrabiesday/index.asp.

For more information: www.worldrabiesday.org or www.cdc.gov

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES