Rabies

Rabies is an acute, progressive, and almost invariably fatal viral encephalomyelitis that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. It is a classic zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. Despite being one of the oldest known infectious diseases, rabies continues to cause tens of thousands of deaths annually, primarily in resource-limited regions. The disease is virtually 100 percent fatal once clinical symptoms appear, but it is also 100 percent preventable with timely and appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis.