Please explain Rabies?

I want to know what rabies does to animals and people and does it have the same effects? Can humans infect other humans with rabies? Do humans and animal have the same symptoms?

Rabies is a disease of mammals only. It attacks the central nervous system in all mammals the same way, and is fatal in all animals. Humans can be treated post exposure, but if they develop the full blown disease, it's pretty much fatal. To date there have been only two humans to survive an active case of rabies, which doesn't make the odds that good. The symptoms expressed depend on the animal that is infected, and how virulent the attack is. Some animals do become the picture of what you'd expect- violent and biting, which is actually the second phase of infection. Sometime the animals do not experience this second stage, and simply try to avoid all contact, rapidly going into a "dumb" sort of stage and dying shortly after. The most common symptoms are a behavior change and avoiding food and water. As to whether animals and humans have the same symptoms is a matter of interpretation. Animals can't verbalize their complaints, after all- the best we can do is observe and guess. Humans have been known to exhibit both the dumb and viscious phases of rabies. Any mammal with rabies can transmit rabies to another mammal- animal or human doesn't matter. Humans with rabies can give it to any other mammal- another animal or another human. Animals would pose a greated danger of spreading rabies, though, than a human. Humans would be more likely to seek treatment, and even if they did develop rabies, they would be kept hosptalized under strict isolation. People they came in contact with prior to developing rabies would probably recieve treatment to prevent getting it. Wild animals remain the main pool of transmission. Those animals with rabies can spread it through biting other animals, or by being eaten by another animal- even after the rabid animal dies. That's why animal carcasses should be burned, especiallly if you live in an area with a serious outbreak of rabies. Pets should be kept vaccinated, and recieve an injection each year to insure they do not get rabies. Humans should avoid contact with wild animals, and should never approach one that is not acting right. Any wild animal that approaches humans is suspect. Dead animals should not be handled at all, except with proper tools and protective gear. The body should be burned, to prevent scavengers from eating it. It's an ugly disease, with an ugly end- no matter if you are an animal or a human.

rabies is caused by a virus. it affects the nervous system (mostly brain) and cause brain swelling. the early symptoms includes: being tired, fever and headache (but remember this could also mean minor illness not necessarily rabies) and as it progress, symptoms could include insomia, partial paralysis, over production of saliva (if you see a confused animal with frothing mouth - run!).

the usual way to get rabies is to be bitten by an infected animal (dog, bats, raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote). human to human transmission is rare (usually from organ transplant). there are still no reported case of getting rabies from a human bite although, in theory it could happen.

the best way to avoid having rabies is prevention. get your domestic animals vaccinated. don't handle wild animals or animals you don't know. if you suspect you are infected, check with your medical practioner, there's a post-exposure prophylaxis you can get. this means they will give you a medication that will prevent you to have the disease after exposure. best of luck.

for more info, there's should be an article about rabies in our center for disease control. check it out at cdc.gov

Hi, yes until recently, no-one had ever survived rabies (after it took hold). Interestingly, it was one of the first vaccines every discovered. For a long time, if you were bitten by a potentially rabid animal, you had to have a series of 4 painful shots in the stomach of a killed virus.

For years and years, even though they had other vaccines that they thought would be less painful, no-one was willing to be the first guiney pig and try the new treatments. (Would you?)

Rabies (also known as hydrophobia) has similar effects on humans as it does on animals. People have described a terrifying thirst matched to a refulsion or fear of water (hence hydro-phobia). The patient alternates between periods of lucidity (warning potential victims to stay away and begging to be tied up or killed on the spot) and periods of absolute madness.