Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals . In people who have been exposed to rabies , the rabies vaccine and sometimes rabies immunoglobulin are effective in preventing the disease if the person receives the treatment before the start of rabies symptoms . Washing bites and scratches for 15 minutes with soap and water , povidone iodine , or detergent may reduce the number of viral particles and may be somewhat effective at preventing transmission . Only five people have survived a rabies infection after showing symptoms , and this was with extensive treatment known as the Milwaukee protocol . Rabies is a viral zoonotic neuroinvasive disease which causes inflammation in the brain and is usually fatal .
Rabies is non-communicable.