Rabies : The Virus and Its Mechanisms Essay

The rabies viral disease is almost always fatal following the onset of clinical symptoms according to the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization also concluded 99% of all rabies cases involved;

Jeanna Giese was 15 when she contracted rabies. A bat bit her left index finger, and since it was a superficial wound, she simply cleaned it and never sought medical attention. After she started to exhibit neurological symptoms--like double vision and tingling in her left arm--they decided to admit her to a hospital. The doctors put her in a medically-induced coma. It was too late to give her the vaccine. She healed without the vaccine which makes her the first person to do so. Others were not as fortunate. Rabies is a harmful virus that compromises a person's neurological process and, consequently, makes their actions unpredictable.

Rabies is a fatal disease transmitted by the bite of an infected mammal. The disease travels from the saliva of the infected animal, into the wound of its victim, eventually attacking the brain and nervous system. At that time the virus get to the brain, the victim develops symptoms salivating, walking in circles, loss of appetite, fear of water, and aggression. After

The infected person could feel symptoms less than a week or over a year later (WHO, 2014), in the most extreme cases. Once the incubation period is over and enough of the virus has been replicated, it uses neurons in the peripheral nervous system and exploits axonal transport mechanisms so that it can eventually invade the central nervous system and reach its target – the brain (Gluska, S. 2014). Once in the central nervous system rabies causes acute brain inflammation, causing psychosis and extreme aggression (n.p. 2014). It then travels back through the peripheral nervous system, eventually concentrating in the salivary glands to be transmitted to the next victim. Because of the concentration in these glands, most victims suffer excruciating pain upon swallowing and develop a fear of liquids (Health Central, 2014).

For one thing, when rabies affects humans that have very similar symptoms of the flu, including discomfort, headache, weakness and fever, and last for days. Though it also includes itching, around the site of the bite, anxiety, and abnormal behavior—[“Rabies -sign and symptoms” Centers for Disease Control and prevention], insomnia — inability to sleep—, hallucinations — an experience of something that is not present (Dictionary), sore throats, fear of water and stiff muscles. The virus soon as it’s in the humans’ body starts to move from the arm or leg, where it was a bit, within a short period of time; it spreads though-out the body and tends to fail internal organs (Rabies Vaccine: Medline Plus Drug Information). For example, according to “National Health Service Choices” in article about Rabies. Brierlie Godfrey, who is an Australian actress living in London, was bit by a wild baboon in Morocco while on holiday. However, some animals have the some similar symptoms such as: fear of water, and change in behavior or personality. Animals also become withdrawn or aggressive. For example, wild animals may lose their fear of humans or pets may become aggressive or withdraw. Often the animal does not eat, may fear water, and have an unsteady gait (Rabies Vaccine: Medline Plus Drug Information). Last of all, these symptoms can roughly permanently fatal. According

Some symptoms of rabies are fever, vomiting, headache ,depression, sore throat, and pain in the muscles around the bite site. Rabies is a dangerous disease if you don’t treat the bite site immediately. Rabies will attack your muscles and make them weak. It also affects the central nervous system which includes the brain and the spinal cord. Some of the later symptoms are insomnia, agitation, increased salivation, and difficulty swallowing. Death usually occurs within a few days after the symptoms start. The symptoms for dogs include jaw drop, bark tone changes, fever, pica, seizures, and the loss of inability to swallow food or

One of the most effect that happen is death. Death usually occurs after symptoms appear. Erratic, excited or bizarre behavior occurs (Michelle Badash, MS). Clinical rabies has been reported to have a history of pre or postexposure prophylaxis. The disease progresses, the person can experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations and insomnia (Vaccines.org). If this happens seek treatment quickly.

The word rabies is a derived from a Latin word in late 16th century. That Latin word is rabere ‘rage’.

A fast-acting shot (rabies immune globulin) can prevent the virus from infecting you. Part of this injection is given around the area where the animal bit you if possible, as soon as possible after the initial bite. A series of rabies vaccines can possibly help your body learn to identify and fight the virus. Rabies vaccines are given as injections in your arm. You receive four injections in total over a 14 day period.

Symptoms of rabies include weakness, influenza, and headaches that lasts for days. If it reaches the brain, then it considered to be fatal. Vaccines and human immune globulin injections are used to treat early stages of rabies. If the virus if

The first type is called furious rabies which include symptoms of seizures, photophobia (fear of light), thermophobia (feat of heat), hydrophobia (drinking water becomes increasingly harder, and when you drink your throat and diaphragm go into spasm) insomnia, partial paralysis; altering periods of mental clarity with sever anxiety, followed by confusion, hallucinations, and delusions. The second type of rabies is a more rare case called dumb rabies lasting only three to four days, host becomes progressively paralyzed to the point where the heart and lungs begin to stop working. * put

Rabies is a highly infectious viral disease that can easily ruin and eventually end the lives of both humans and animals alike. Rabies comes in two forms for animals. It comes in the form of paralytic rabies, which is the kind that puts you in paralysis right from the beginning, skipping the symptoms of agitation and excitability. Rabies also appears in the form of furious rabies, which is completely different in the way that it makes the victim restless, vicious and agitated. When humans get rabies, their symptoms start out with simple headaches and fevers and later progresses to terrible things such as becoming hydrophobic because of painful throat spasms and paralysis. A definite diagnosis of rabies needs lab analysis of

Rabies (lyssavirus) attacks the human’s nervous system, and is later discharged in the saliva. The lyssavirus keeps out of sight from the immune system, so there is no immune response and it is hard to fight back with the hidden virus. If the person infected does not get immediate treatment, the disease will evolve. After the person gets bitten, they should receive first aid immediately. After that, the only way to stop the rabies from growing is a preventive treatment. The treatment is giving certain immunoglobulin, which is an inactive immunization, and giving a normal vaccination, which is an active immunization. With the immunoglobulin, certain antibodies are given to fight the rabies like an antidote. They attach to the rabies virus and

“No, worse. Animals all over the world have gotten this odd kind of rabies. There just like normal rabies but after the animal dies it comes back from the dead and tries to eat any living thing it sees,” said Smith.

Because rabies is transmitted through saliva, the disease is usually brought about into the body by a bite of an animal already infected with the lyssa virus (rabies). Rabies then deposits itself into the tissue of the host (person/animal who has the virus in them), infecting the host and later multiplying. From there, the virus travels from the nerves to the muscles, then to the brain and spinal cord (Easmon paragraphs 8-9). At this point, the virus is multiplying rapidly and soon the brain is extremely affected, which causes it to malfunction and the part of the brain that controls breathing shuts down (Buncombe paragraph 8).