Rabies is a virus that causes brain disease in all warm-blooded creatures, though certain species such as coyotes, skunks, raccoons and bats are particularly susceptible. According to the Center for Disease Control, the disease is spread via saliva passed from an infected animal to an uninfected one (Reference 1).
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Name Origin
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The word "rabies" comes from the Latin "rabere," meaning "to rage or rave." Animals with the disease often appear angry.
Earliest Known Cases
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The disease has been known for thousands of years. More than 4,000 years ago, Babylonian dog owners were fined when their rabid dogs bit people.
Domestic Cases
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In 2006, domestic animals, especially dogs, made up 8 percent of known cases of rabies in the United States. That number increased to 11 percent the following year.
Rabies in Humans
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Since the beginning of this century, the number of cases in humans has declined steadily, from 100 cases a year to two or three.
Signs of Infection
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The first sign of rabies may disguise itself as flu. There may be achiness, fever, or headache. The original bite will be sore, then there may be brain dysfunction and emotional manifestations such as anxiety, confusion and agitation. Untreated, rabies can lead to delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, insomnia and death.
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