Dominica has joined countries across the world in observing World Rabies Day, with health and agriculture officials urging pet owners to keep their animals vaccinated and to report any bite or scratch promptly to the authorities.
The observance, held annually on September 28, is led globally by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and supported by the World Health Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health. It aims to raise awareness of rabies prevention and to celebrate progress towards eliminating human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
In Dominica, the day was marked with public education messages carried by local radio stations, including a discussion on the Q95 programme Talk on the Block. Officials used the platform to remind the public that rabies is a fatal but entirely preventable viral disease, most often transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, usually dogs.
Veterinary and public health teams stressed that vaccination of dogs and cats remains the single most effective way to protect both animals and people. They encouraged owners to ensure their pets are up to date with rabies shots and to avoid contact with stray or wild animals, particularly bats, mongooses and other wildlife that can carry the virus.
Residents were also advised that anyone bitten or scratched by an animal should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least fifteen minutes and seek medical attention immediately at the nearest health centre or hospital. Post-exposure treatment is available in Dominica and is effective when given promptly.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, through the Veterinary Division, work together on rabies surveillance and response. Officials noted that Dominica has not recorded a human case of rabies in recent years, a record they attribute to sustained vaccination campaigns and public cooperation.
World Rabies Day 2026 carries the theme «Breaking Rabies Boundaries», which calls for cross-sector collaboration to reach communities that may have limited access to veterinary services or health information. In the Caribbean, the Pan American Health Organization has been supporting countries in their efforts to eliminate dog-mediated rabies.
Officials reminded the public that reporting suspected rabid animals to the Veterinary Division or the police is a civic duty that helps protect the whole community. They also urged pet owners in rural parishes and the Kalinago Territory to take advantage of vaccination drives when they are announced.
The observance forms part of a wider regional push to keep the Caribbean free of human rabies cases. Health authorities said they will continue public education throughout the year, with particular attention to schools and community groups.
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