RESUMEN
Rabies rate increased last 6 months reaching 17 cases admitted to IBN. Al Kateeb hospital, Is caused by RNA virus genus lyssa virus of the rhabdoviridae family. It is primarily an infection of animals but is occasionaly transmitted to man by bites and produce encephalomyelits which is nearly always fatal. In most parts of the world domestic dog is the main vector of human rabies. The virus can pentrate broken skin and intact mucous membranes, also the human rabies resulting from inhalation of the virus is exceptionally rare, and theoritically, Rabies is communicable from person to person. The symptom of either furious or pralytic rabies will develop depending on wether the brain or spinal cord is predominately affected. The diagnosis of rabies can be confirmed in the animal responsible for the bite by immunofluorescene of brain impression smear or histological examination for nigri bodies while in patients rabies can be confirmed early in the illness by antigen detection using immuno fluorescence and by virus isolation from saliva and other secretions. Treatment of rabies is conservative and the prognosis virtually hopeless. At the time of the bite, However before the virus has invaded the nervous system, correct cleaning of the wound and the use of post- exposure immunization reduce the risk of rabies, pre- exposure prophylaxis and post- exposure prophylaxis is essential to prevent the disease