Taming Rabies

January 19, 2017

(Science) – An estimated 59,000 people die from rabies worldwide each year, almost all infected by dogs. Malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis take much higher tolls. But the horrible suffering caused by rabies—some patients have convulsions and become aggressive, just like rabid dogs—and the fact that many victims are children led the World Health Organization (WHO) and other groups in 2015 to announce a goal to eliminate rabies deaths worldwide by 2030. In theory, nobody should die from rabies. It’s one of the few viral diseases where administering a vaccine after exposure can still save your life.