Rabies

Rabies, or hydrophobia, acute infectious disease of mammals, characterized by irritation of the central nervous system, followed by paralysis and death. The cause is a virus often present in the saliva of rabid animals. These animals transmit the infection by biting animals or humans. In humans, the incubation period varies from 10 days to over a year. The disease commonly begins with a short period of mental depression, restlessness, malaise, and fever. Restlessness increases to uncontrollable excitement, with excessive salivation and painful spasms of the laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles. As a result, the person cannot drink (hence hydrophobia: fear of water). Rabies rarely occurs in humans if proper treatment (vaccination) is carried out immediately after exposure.

See also: Pasteur, Louis.