World Zoonoses Day is being observed across the globe on Monday to raise awareness about diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans and to promote measures for their prevention and control.

Observed annually on July 6, the day commemorates the historic achievement of French scientist Louis Pasteur, who administered the world's first successful rabies vaccine to a human on July 6, 1885. The breakthrough marked a turning point in the fight against zoonotic diseases and laid the foundation for modern preventive medicine.

Zoonotic diseases, also known as zoonoses, are infectious diseases that can spread between animals and humans through direct contact, contaminated food or water, insect bites, or environmental exposure. Common examples include rabies, bird flu (avian influenza), swine flu, Ebola, Nipah virus, anthrax and certain strains of coronaviruses.

Health experts say increasing interaction between humans, wildlife and domestic animals, coupled with factors such as urbanisation, climate change and global travel, has heightened the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks. They stress that early detection, disease surveillance, vaccination of animals, food safety measures and public awareness are essential to preventing future epidemics and pandemics.

Governments, public health agencies, veterinary organisations and research institutions are marking the occasion through awareness campaigns, educational programmes, seminars and community outreach initiatives. Many of these activities focus on promoting responsible pet ownership, vaccination of domestic animals, improved livestock management and the adoption of the One Health approach, which recognises the close link between human, animal and environmental health.

The World Health Organization (WHO), along with other international health bodies, continues to encourage countries to strengthen collaboration between the medical, veterinary and environmental sectors to improve preparedness against emerging infectious diseases.

Experts note that a significant proportion of newly emerging infectious diseases worldwide originate in animals, making surveillance and prevention a global public health priority.

As World Zoonoses Day is observed, health authorities are urging individuals to follow proper hygiene practices, ensure pets are vaccinated, avoid contact with sick animals and seek immediate medical attention following animal bites or suspected exposure to infectious diseases.

The annual observance serves as a reminder that coordinated efforts among governments, scientists, veterinarians and communities are essential to reducing the risk of zoonotic diseases and protecting public health worldwide.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday made strong observations on the growing menace of stray dog attacks across the country and said that dangerous and rabies-infected stray dogs can be euthanised in accordance with the law. The court emphasized that the safety and lives of citizens are of utmost importance and said that the right to live with dignity also includes the right to live free from the fear of stray dog attacks.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria dismissed all petitions seeking withdrawal of the court’s November 2025 directions regarding stray dogs. The bench made it clear that public safety cannot be compromised and warned that officials failing to implement the directions could face contempt proceedings.

The Supreme Court reiterated its earlier directions to remove stray dogs from public places such as schools, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations and highways. The court said the animals should be shifted to shelters or Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres and should not be released back onto the streets without proper procedures. It also upheld restrictions on feeding stray dogs on roads and public places.

During the hearing, the court referred to several incidents of dog attacks reported from different states. It noted that in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar alone, 1,084 dog bite cases were reported within a month, including several incidents involving small children suffering serious facial injuries. In Tamil Nadu, nearly two lakh dog bite cases were recorded in the first four months of the year. The court also cited an incident in Surat where a German tourist was attacked by a stray dog. The bench observed that such incidents are creating fear among citizens and weakening public trust in urban administration.

The apex court issued nine key directions to states and civic authorities. It directed all state governments to strictly implement the rules framed by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). Every district must have at least one fully functional Animal Birth Control centre, while densely populated cities should establish additional centres based on requirement.

The court further stated that euthanasia may be carried out in cases involving rabies-infected or highly aggressive stray dogs where human life is at risk. It also directed authorities to ensure adequate availability of anti-rabies vaccines and medicines in hospitals and healthcare centres.

The Supreme Court also assigned responsibility to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to address the issue of stray animals on highways. It directed NHAI to take necessary measures to remove stray animals from highways through coordinated efforts with local authorities and monitoring mechanisms.

The bench observed that municipal officials and civic authorities implementing court orders should receive legal protection and should not ordinarily face FIRs or punitive action while carrying out their duties. However, it warned that failure to comply with court directions would invite contempt proceedings.

The court also referred to its January 2026 hearing in the matter, during which it had remarked that its observations should not be taken lightly. At that time, the bench had stated that if a stray dog attack results in serious injury or death, responsibility could also be fixed on dog feeders along with municipal bodies. The court had observed that local administrations were clearly failing in handling the situation.

The matter first came before the Supreme Court in July 2025 when the court took suo motu cognisance of rising stray dog attacks and deaths across India. In August 2025, the court had ordered authorities in Delhi-NCR to capture all stray dogs and shift them to shelters within eight weeks. Following protests from animal rights groups, the court later modified the order and allowed non-aggressive and non-rabid dogs to be released back into their original areas after sterilisation and vaccination.