Rabies is a viral disease of the brain and spinal cord that affects warm blooded animals, such as dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and wild animals like deer, buffalo, raccoons and skunks. There are two general sources of rabies in the world, wildlife or sylvatic rabies and dog rabies. Most of the developed countries of the world has either eliminated or drastically reduced dog rabies, but many still have sylvatic rabies. Most developing countries still have dog rabies as their major type of animal rabies.
Rabies occurs throughout the world with the exception of the Australia, United Kingdom and Japan.
None of these countries have ever been known to have rabies in their wildlife, and all three have used strict quarantine procedures to keep the disease out. Insect-eating bats are occasionally found to be rabid in many parts of the U.S. Rabies is a greater danger in late spring, summer, and early fall. Wild animals are more active during these times. Also, greater numbers of humans are outdoors where they are exposed to them. The rabies virus.