Rabies

Although the incidence of rabies in man and domestic animals has dropped dramatically in the United States during the last 30 years, the mere presence of this invariably fatal zoonotic disease continues to pose a major problem to both the medical and veterinary professions. This article examines the current epidemiology of the disease in the United States, illustrating the major sources of infection in man and domestic pets. A review of the management of suspect rabies cases under circumstances commonly encountered in veterinary practice is given, and the current recommendations for pre- and post-exposure immunization of human beings are discussed.