Around the World: Dogs and Global Rabies Transmission

One way to promote rabies prevention is to be educated about animals likely to be infected with rabies where you live. Dogs are the source of 99 percent of all animal-to-human rabies transmissions worldwide. In industrialized countries, this common cause of transmission has been controlled by vaccination of dogs. In the United States, wildlife such as skunks, raccoons and bats are the most common hosts. In colder climates such as Canada and Russia, the arctic fox is the most common host. 

Though most people do not receive the vaccine as a preventive measure, the World Health Organization does recommend preventative immunization for certain high-risk groups. Those groups include laboratory personnel working with rabies or related viruses; other professionals who might come into contact with host mammals in rabies-affected areas; travelers who spend a lot of time outdoors in rural areas; or those at significant risk of dog bites.