The most potent risk factor for the development of rabies is a bite from an infected animal. People that live in an area, or travel to an area that has a large incidence for rabies, are at a high risk for acquiring rabies from a rabid animal. Handling certain wild animals such as bats or raccoons will put a person at a higher risk.

The following are the risk factors for rabies:^{_Rabies-1|[1][2][3][4][5]}

• Bites from infected animals
• Exposure to urine or other secretions of infected animals
• Organ transplants from infected donors
• The following individuals may have a higher risk of contracting rabies than the general population:
  • International travelers
  • Animal control officers
  • Spelunkers
  • Lab workers
  • Injuries to the head and the neck region with open wounds may facilitate quicker transmission of the virus to the brain.