A nearly always fatal viral disease transmitted through animal bites. Effective post-exposure prophylaxis and pre-exposure vaccination are available.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. Once symptoms appear, rabies is nearly always fatal (CDC, 2024).
Globally, rabies causes approximately 59,000 deaths annually, with 95% of cases in Asia and Africa. Most deaths occur from dog bites in areas where canine rabies is not controlled. In the U.S., wildlife (bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes) are the main sources of rabies exposure.
Rabies is preventable through timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure vaccination for high-risk groups.