Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals that causes inflammation of the brain and is almost always fatal in humans if left untreated. It was first identified by Louis Pasteur in the 1880s who developed the first rabies vaccine by growing the virus in rabbits and weakening it. The first person successfully treated for rabies infection was a 9-year old boy in 1885. In the U.S., most rabies cases are found in wildlife such as raccoons, bats, and skunks. While human cases are rare, rabies prevention is important as the disease is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear.
