World Zoonoses Day falls on 6 July each year, a global occasion aimed at raising awareness of diseases that can pass between animals and people, and at highlighting the importance of prevention and cooperation among health sectors to protect public health.

The day commemorates the success of the first rabies vaccine in 1885, a historic milestone that advanced efforts to control shared diseases and limit their spread.

World Zoonoses Day spotlights the importance of regular animal vaccination, veterinary care, food safety and environmental hygiene as core elements in reducing disease transmission, and promotes the "One Health" concept that brings human, animal and environmental health together in one integrated system for confronting health risks.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the relevant authorities continue to run awareness initiatives and programs designed to strengthen prevention of zoonotic diseases and support sound health practices that protect livestock and the community.

The National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa) stressed the importance of following preventive measures, including vaccination with approved vaccines, keeping pens clean, applying biosecurity procedures and controlling disease vectors, as well as isolating animals suspected of infection and avoiding direct contact with them without appropriate protection.

Marking the occasion reflects the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening public health, raising community awareness and supporting efforts to build a healthy and safe environment, in line with global best practices in the prevention of shared diseases.