Rabies is a severe viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It is almost always fatal. All warm-blooded mammals including humans are susceptible to rabies.
Bats are the only rabies reservoir in the Pacific Northwest.
In Washington, rabies has not been found in raccoons, skunks, foxes or coyotes. These species may carry the virus in other regions of the United States. Worldwide in developing countries dogs are the principal rabies reservoir. Human rabies is an extremely rare disease. Since 1990 the number of reported cases in the United States has ranged from 1 to 6 cases annually.