Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals. Louis Pasteur's research in the 1880s identified the rabies virus and led to the development of the first vaccines using weakened forms of the virus. The first person successfully treated for rabies infection was a 9-year old boy in 1885. In the US, wildlife like raccoons, bats and skunks are common carriers and transmission can be prevented through vaccination after exposure. While rare in the US, rabies remains a serious threat globally with over 55,000 deaths per year.