Rabies

Part of series 1 of the CDC Museum set of Infectious disease trading cards, featuring photos and information about some of the infectious diseases that CDC studies.Rabies is a serious disease caused by a virus. Each year, it kills more than 50,000 people and millions of animals around the world. Any mammal can get rabies. For example, rac\uc2\uad coons, skunks, foxes, bats, dogs, cats, and cattle can get rabies. People can also get rabies. An animal gets rabies from saliva, usually from a bite of an animal that has the disease. Animals with rabies may act differently than a healthy animal. A pet that is usually friendly may snap at you or may try to bite. Wild animals may act like they are tame. If you are bitten by an animal that could have rabies, clean the bite wound carefully with soap and water and im\uc2\uad mediately go see a doctor. Vaccinate your dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies. Do not handle wild animals or strays