Rabies
Definition A frequently-fatal acute viral infection which can be transmitted to humans by infected animals (often dogs or bats) via a bite or by the exposure of broken skin to an infected animal's saliva.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Rabies is transmitted by infected saliva that enters the body through a bite wound or other open wound. The virus travels from the wound along nerve pathways to the brain, where it causes inflammation (irritation and swelling with presence of extra immune cells) that results in the symptoms of the disease.
The incubation period ranges from 10 days to 7 years, with the average being 3 to 7 weeks.
In the past, human cases in the U.S. usually resulted from a dog bite, but recently, more cases of human rabies have are linked to bats in this country. In the United States there have not been any rabies cases caused by dog bites for a number of years.
Worldwide, dogs still pose a significant risk for transmitting rabies, however. Bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and other animals can also be sources of rabies virus. There are an estimated 15,000 cases of rabies worldwide each year.
Few cases occur in the United States (only 3 reported in 1991 and 9 in 1994) because of extensive animal vaccination programs.
The United Kingdom has completely eradicated rabies, which is why Americans cannot bring pets or other animals to the UK without having them undergo a six month quarantine.
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