World Thrombosis Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)
About World Thrombosis Day
World Thrombosis Day takes place every October 13 to increase awareness of potentially serious blood clots and the need for safe prevention and medical care.
The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) founded this international public-health awareness campaign and coordinates partners worldwide.
Why World Thrombosis Day matters
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel; its consequences depend on where it happens and the person’s health.
The campaign supports informed recognition of risk and symptoms while avoiding self-diagnosis, unsupervised anticoagulant advice or a suggestion that individual risk can be determined online.
History of World Thrombosis Day
ISTH announced the inaugural World Thrombosis Day in March 2014 and held the first campaign on October 13, 2014.
The annual date recognizes Rudolf Virchow’s birthday, reflecting his scientific contributions to the understanding of thrombosis; awareness partners have continued campaigning on October 13.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)
ISTH original 2014 launch announcements identify the organizing society.
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)
ISTH itself states it designated October 13 as World Thrombosis Day; professional-society campaign designation only.
First documented observance
ISTH announced inaugural October 13 2014 global campaign.
ISTH World Thrombosis Day campaign and global scientific partners
Campaign organizer maintains annual World Thrombosis Day program.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe World Thrombosis Day
Share official World Thrombosis Day or established medical-society educational material.
Encourage informed conversations with healthcare professionals around surgery, hospitalization or other patient-specific risk factors.
Seek urgent qualified medical assistance for possible emergency symptoms; do not attempt self-treatment from awareness posts.
World Thrombosis Day Facts
World Thrombosis Day was founded by ISTH in 2014.
October 13 was selected because it is Rudolf Virchow’s birthday.
Campaign materials discuss blood clots affecting veins and arteries, but advice should be individualized by professionals.
World Thrombosis Day Messages
Support accessible medical conversations about risk factors.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis — March 2014 inaugural launch announcement (opens in a new tab)
International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis — October 13 designation notice (opens in a new tab)
World Thrombosis Day — official history and 2014 start (opens in a new tab)
ISTH — World Thrombosis Day (opens in a new tab)
Organizer Authoritative Page
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Thrombosis Day?
13 October The documented recurrence rule is: 13 October.
Does World Thrombosis Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is World Thrombosis Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Organizer-backed international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Thrombosis Day?
The reviewed sources identify International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as ISTH World Thrombosis Day campaign and global scientific partners.
Is World Thrombosis Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: Organizer-backed international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-09.
When is World Thrombosis Day?
October 13 annually.
Who created it?
The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis launched the day in 2014.
Why October 13?
ISTH selected Rudolf Virchow’s birthday to recognize his contribution to understanding thrombosis.
Can someone change medication because of an awareness campaign?
No. Any blood-clot prevention or treatment decisions require individual professional medical advice; suspected emergencies need urgent assessment.
Other observances on October 13
These observances are also listed on October 13, 2027.
Commemoration of the Assassination of Prince Louis Rwagasore
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
Emergency Nurses Day
The Emergency Nurses Association states that it has recognized the second Wednesday in October as Emergency Nurses Day since 1989 and expanded the celebration to Emergency Nurses Week in 20…
Herpes Awareness Day
National Today places Herpes Awareness Day on October 13 annually, and AnydayGuide independently lists National Herpes Awareness Day on October 13.
International Civility for the Girl Child Day
Louisa Akaiso is identified as the 2020 creator of the October 13 observance; Women Who Win Africa’s current first-party site continues to list International Civility for the Girl Child Day…
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
A/RES/64/200
International Top Spinning Day
The Spinning Top & Yo-Yo Museum identifies International Top Spinning Day on the second Wednesday in October and lists the 2026 date.