09/28/2026
Today is World Rabies Day. Is Rabies fatal? Yes, there is no effective treatment once clinical symptoms appear. Rabies has the highest case-fatality rate of any infectious disease known to man, because there is no proven cure or treatment available once there are signs of an infection.
However, if proper medical treatment (post-exposure prophylaxis, PEP) is received immediately after exposure to the bite or scratch of a rabid animal, rabies infection can be halted before symptoms of the disease are present, and the disease can be prevented.
In America the main sources of rabies include: skunks, fox, bats, raccoons. It is through wildlife that our pets and livestock are exposed. We can prevent rabies in our pets and decrease human exposure by vaccinating our pets.
Please do not discount the importance of rabies vaccination. Rabies is a preventable disease.
