Rabies: the virus with a near 100% fatality rate

Rabies is one of the most lethal viral infections on the planet and when symptoms start presenting it’s usually too late.  

Australia is rabies free with only two confirmed human deaths from the virus, both from last century.

But for many countries across Asia and Africa it’s still a very real and deadly threat.  

Read more: High-res look at the rabies virus reveals potential vaccine targets

On this episode of The Science Briefing, Dr Sophie Calabretto talks to Cosmos Magazine journalist Imma Perfetto about the defences we have against rabies and a critical new finding that could boost protection for those with daily exposure to the virus.