Rabies is scary and used to be 100% fatal regardless. Pasteur provided a good chance with his vaccine, which works well if you know you need it in time. And if you’re at high enough risk I presume you can get the vaccine prophylactically. And now the Milwaukee protocol provides a smidgen of hope if you don’t seek Pasteur in time: a half dozen survivors out of three dozen attempts. Not great odds, but no longer 100% fatal once symptoms appear. I know you can get rabies without realizing you’ve been exposed, but absent vampire bats—which we do lack here—I think most victims would have at least some clue to get the shots. And the shots aren’t nearly as bad they used to be.
I am well aware of the specifics of rabies infection. What scares me is that bats have tiny bites, and sometimes people do not know they have been bitten. There was a recent case where the incubation period was years (determined because the patient was living in Australia for several years before developing rabies). Rabies is endemic in my area--several rabid animals have been found this year.
All of the successful Milwaukee Protocol attempts that I am aware of were young girls. I do not know if that is significant. I will continue to consider rabies 100% fatal once symptoms appear until a better protocol has been worked out.
I know a woman who was bitten by a rabid bat. I think she had been previously vaccinated. In any case, she is still alive, several months later.