狂犬病（俗称：疯狗症；字根来自拉丁语：rabies，意为“疯狂”）是一种由病毒引起之人畜共患传染病，可于恒温动物身上造成严重脑部发炎。没有接受疫苗免疫的感染者，当神经症状出现后几乎必然死亡，通常的死亡原因都是由于中枢神经（脑-脊髓）被病毒破坏，病毒大量存在于发病者的脑脊液、唾液和体液中，绝大部份通过咬伤传播，很多时令染病的人或动物特别活跃，在没有激怒的情况下发起攻击，展现其他不寻常的行为。狂犬病亦可以以麻痹方式出现，令患者显得沉默内向。亦有未经确认的实例表明病毒可经飞沫由黏膜或呼吸道传染，在探索有狂犬病蝙蝠的洞穴时被含有蝙蝠粪便的飞沫感染。最终死于自主神经系统受损导致的脏器衰竭、呼吸衰竭。但是只要及时的接种疫苗，一般都能诱发机体产生足够的免疫力消灭病毒。狂犬病的早期症状包括发烧与伤口的刺痛感，稍后则可能会出现暴力行为、不可自制的兴奋感、恐水症、部分肢体瘫痪、意识混乱或丧失知觉。自染病到病发的时间为一至三个月，但因人而异的程度相当大：长可长至一年，短可短到一周内，一旦症状出现，狂犬病的致命率几乎百分之百。狂犬病症状出现所花的时间主要受病毒侵犯至中枢神经系统的时间所影响。

Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals. Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure. These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, an inability to move parts of the body, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Once symptoms appear, the result is nearly always death. The time period between contracting the disease and the start of symptoms is usually one to three months; however, this time period can vary from less than one week to more than one year. The time is dependent on the distance the virus must travel to reach the central nervous system.