Rabies is a severe viral infection of the central nervous system that results in death. All warm-blooded animals and humans are at risk for contracting rabies if exposed by an animal with rabies.
Rabies is spread to humans in the saliva of an infected animal.
The virus is transmitted by bite or contact with the saliva through mucous membranes, open wounds, scratches or abrasions. Rabies is a fatal disease. Early symptoms include headache, nausea, fever, malaise, loss of appetite, apprehension and indefinite sensory changes at the site of the bite. Late symptoms include paralysis and death. In humans, rabies is diagnosed by history of exposure, development of the characteristic symptoms and by detection of rabies virus in brain tissue.