Infection is through a bite or by broken skin or mucous membrane contact with infected saliva.
A victim who is vaccinated shortly after the animal bite will be protected against rabies. If a victim is not vaccinated, death usually occurs within a week of the onset of symptoms. In the United States, the animals most likely to have rabies are skunks, raccoons, bats, and foxes. Rarely cats, cattle, and dogs can be infected through contact with one of these other animals. Most cases of rabies in humans are caused by bites from dogs while outside the United States.