Library · Microorganism
Rabies virus
Make it clearer
The rabies virus most often enters through a bite or scratch from an infected animal. Picture it finding a network of nerve pathways: from the entry point, it travels toward the brain before symptoms appear.
Once it reaches the central nervous system, it can cause severe brain disease. That is the virus’s general biological route. It cannot tell us whether one particular contact transmitted rabies, because that question depends on the details of the exposure.
In brief
The rabies virus causes a viral disease of the nervous system. It can be transmitted through bites or scratches from an infected animal and must travel from its point of entry to the brain before symptoms develop.
Its affinity for nervous tissue allows it to reach the central nervous system, where it causes severe brain disease. This card describes the virus’s general biological route; it cannot determine whether a particular contact was an exposure or replace a clinical assessment.
It travels along nerves toward the brain.
Sources (1)
- Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAbout RabiesPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated