What is rabies?
Quick Answer
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. It is usually spread through the bite of an infected animal.
The Full Story
Rabies is caused by lyssaviruses, most often transmitted in saliva from infected mammals such as dogs, bats, raccoons, or foxes. After a variable incubation period, symptoms can include anxiety, confusion, paralysis, and difficulty swallowing, often leading to death. Post-exposure vaccination and rabies immune globulin can prevent disease if given before symptoms start. Human rabies deaths are preventable and remain concentrated where access to rapid treatment and animal vaccination is limited.
Key Facts
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"The deadly virus that can still be stopped after a bite"