Six People Have Died From Rabies This Year in the U.S. — Is That Normal?

99% of human rabies deaths worldwide are caused by rabid dogs. Sadly, a rabies outbreak has occurred in the U.S., threatening the lives of countless people throughout the country. Article continues below advertisementBecause the rabies virus is most often spread through contact with animals infected by the rabies virus, is there one particular animal at the root of this deadly outbreak? Is the rabies virus a consistent threat to the lives of Americans, and how many deaths are there from the rabies virus each year? Sadly, the number of rabies deaths per year globally is significantly higher, according to the "Global Rabies: What You Should Know" page on the CDC website.