Global Perspectives on Rabies Prevention and Control: A Decade of World Rabies Day Themes and Progress toward Elimination (2016–2025)

Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease, responsible for approximately 59,000 human deaths annually; the majority occur in developing regions of Asia and Africa. This review explores worldwide efforts to prevent and control rabies during 2016-2025, using the evolving themes of World Rabies Day (WRD) as a framework. The research objective is to assess epidemiological trends, intervention strategies, challenges, and innovations related to the World Health Organization's target of zero human rabies deaths by 2030. The findings highlight a significant reduction in global rabies occurrence, with mass vaccination campaigns for dogs achieving 70% coverage in Guinea and a 95% decrease in human cases in Latin America. However, gaps in surveillance, vaccine shortages, and poor public education persist. Low-cost intradermal prophylaxis, monoclonal antibodies, and AI-driven surveillance systems are promising approaches but remain constrained by socioeconomic inequalities and insufficient investment. Achieving "Zero by 30" requires stronger collaboration, equitable resource distribution, and sustained community mobilization.