Rabies invokes powerful fear among veterinarians, public health officials, and most pet owners.  This viral disease has the highest mortality of ANY infectious agent, virtually 100% fatal (there have been fewer than 10 high profile human survivors recently). In contrast Ebola's fatality rate is approximately 65%.   Worldwide rabies causes between 28,000 and 55,000 human deaths a year, many of these children in Africa and Asia.  Rabies is spread when an infected animal bites another animal or human, the virus being found in high concentrations in the infected animals salivary glands.  

The threat of exposure to humans and domestic animals in Europe and North America has been dramatically reduced via vaccination of pets against rabies. Surprisingly, there are 10,000 animal cases a year  in  North America each year; this number includes wildlife and domestic species.  Among domestic animals, cats have more cases of rabies than any other domestic species, three times the number than dogs. 

The reason for this is dogs are more likely to be vaccinated, and are more often supervised outside.

On the bright side, this lethal disease can be prevented by vaccination. While most people in North America do not receive vaccination against rabies, it is required by law that dogs and cats receive this vaccine.  Although no vaccine is 100 % effective, the rabies vaccine is nearly so, and provides your pet with the only known preventive available.