Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffRabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals. The rabies virus is usually transmitted through a bite.
Animals most likely to transmit rabies in the United States include bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and skunks. In developing countries of Africa and Southeast Asia, stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to people.
Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. For that reason, vaccines to stop the rabies virus from infecting the body are given to anyone who may have a risk of contracting rabies.
Symptoms
References
- Di Quinzio M, et al. Rabies risk among travelers. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2008;178:567.
- DeMaria A. Patient information: Rabies. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed Dec. 17, 2008.
- Manning SE, et al. Human rabies prevention - United States, 2008. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2008;57:1.
- General questions & answers about rabies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/rabies/qanda/general.html. Accessed Dec. 17, 2008.
- About rabies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/rabies/about.html. Accessed Dec. 22, 2008.
- What to do if you have a potential rabies exposure. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/types.html. Accessed Dec. 31, 2008.
