Many people mistakenly believe that only when bitten by a rabid dog can one get rabies. In fact, rabies can also be transmitted from the saliva of an infected animal through a scratch or lick on an open wound or scratched area of human skin.

Rabies is caused by the Rabies Virus - a virus transmitted through the bite or scratch of an animal, especially a dog. The incubation period for rabies ranges from a few days to a few months, while the time from onset of the disease to death varies from only 1 to 7 days.