Every year on July 6, the world pauses to mark World Zoonoses Day — a day that commemorates the historic moment in 1885 when French scientist Louis Pasteur successfully administered the first rabies vaccine to a human, saving a young boy’s life.

However, beyond its historical roots, this day has become a critical reminder of an urgent modern truth: diseases that jump from animals to humans — known as zoonoses — remain among the greatest health threats of our time.

What are zoonotic diseases? Zoonoses are infections that originate in animals and spill over to humans. Some are familiar — like rabies, bird flu, swine flu, and plague — while others, like Ebola and SARS-CoV-2 (which caused COVID-19), have shaken the world in recent decades. The World Health Organization estimates that about 60% of existing human infectious diseases are zoonotic, and around 75% of new or emerging diseases in humans come from animals.

Why is the risk rising? Deforestation, rapid urbanization, climate change, and the illegal wildlife trade have all intensified human-animal contact. As habitats shrink and species move closer together — and to us — the chances of a virus or bacterium finding a new human host grow alarmingly higher.

Lessons from the past, hope for the future: Pasteur’s rabies vaccine was a turning point in medical science, proving that prevention could be possible even for terrifying diseases. Today, modern vaccines, surveillance systems, and One Health approaches — which recognize the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health — offer hope in controlling and preventing future zoonotic outbreaks.

What can we do?

  1. Vaccinate pets and livestock, especially against rabies and other preventable diseases.
  2. Promote responsible farming and food safety.
  3. Avoid contact with wild animals and support wildlife conservation to reduce risky interactions.
  4. Stay informed about local zoonotic risks and emerging health advisories.

On World Zoonoses Day, the message is clear: the health of humans, animals, and the planet is woven together. By respecting that balance and acting responsibly, we can help prevent the next pandemic — and honor the pioneering spirit of science that began over a century ago.