What happens if a rabid animal bites you?

Following a bite, the rabies virus spreads by way of the nerve cells to the brain. Once in the brain, the virus multiplies rapidly. This activity causes severe inflammation of the brain and spinal cord after which the person deteriorates rapidly and dies.

Can you survive being bitten by a rabid animal?

Until recently, being bitten by a rabid animal was a death sentence. Even now, we can only prevent the disease, not treat it. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. Thanks to effective vaccinations and treatments, only a handful of people die of rabies in the United States each year.

What do people act like when they have rabies?

As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia. The acute period of disease typically ends after 2 to 10 days. Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal, and treatment is typically supportive.

How dangerous is rabies if it is not treated?

How dangerous is rabies if it is not treated? Rabies is almost always fatal if it is left untreated. In fact, once someone with rabies starts experiencing symptoms, they usually do not survive. This is why it is very important to seek medical attention right away following an animal bite, especially if the bite is from a wild animal.

Why is rabies so deadly?

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Infected mammals can transmit rabies virus to humans and other mammals. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Fortunately, only a few human cases are reported each year in the United States.

What animals are immune to rabies?

Opossums are immune to rabies, as their body temperature is too high to harbor the virus.

Why to require a 10-day rabies bites?

Why require a 10-day quarantine period? The 10-day quarantine period ensures that the dog or cat remains available so that it can be observed for signs of rabies. If the animal remains well during the 10 days, this indicates it did not have the rabies virus in its saliva at the time of the bite, and therefore