Neurotropic Rabies Virus

In the movies, being bitten by an animal gives you the superpower of that animal; but in real life, the only power you get might be lethal. The fact is, rabies killed around 59000 people worldwide in 2022, according to CDC. 16 years ago, the world celebrated World Rabies Day on the 28th in September to highlight the connection of the environment with both people and animals. The theme for this year’s celebration is “One Health, Zero Death.”

Rabies is derived from a Latin word that means “madness.” The reservoir of the virus is found in all mammals, including wild animals (raccoon, fox, skunk, mongoose) and the addition of domestic animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, and rats. These species vary depends on the country and continent. The most common route of exposure to rabies is when humans are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal.