Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease caused by a lyssavirus that targets the central nervous system. The virus is transmitted through contact with saliva from infected mammals. Once in the body, the virus replicates locally and travels along peripheral nerves to the spinal cord and brain, leading to encephalitis. The infection progresses systematically, resulting in clinical signs such as behavioral changes, difficulty swallowing, and neurological dysfunction. While historically considered almost uniformly fatal once symptoms appear, advanced prevention measures, including the administration of pre-exposure and post-exposure immunological treatments, have made the disease highly preventable.