The number of human rabies deaths is low in the United States compared with the rest of the world. Each year, about 30,000 to 50,000 people in the world die of rabies. These deaths occur because people did not get vaccinations after being bitten by a rabid animal. Many occur in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Millions of people around the world get the anti-rabies shots after an animal bite.
Dogs are the biggest source of animal bites leading to rabies shots worldwide.
This decrease is mainly due to rabies vaccination programs. Today, pet ferrets can also be vaccinated against the disease. However, overall rabies cases in the United States have been increasing since the 1970s. This is mainly because of outbreaks of rabies among wildlife.