How long can rabies stay dormant for?

Rabies can lay dormant in your body for 1 to 3 months. Doctors call this the “incubation period.” Symptoms will appear once the virus travels through your central nervous system and hits your brain.

What makes rabies so deadly?

Rabies is a viral infection of the brain that is transmitted by animals and that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Once the virus reaches the spinal cord and brain, rabies is almost always fatal.

Why does rabies take so long?

Rabies virus travels through the nerves to the spinal cord and brain. This process can last approximately 3 to 12 weeks. The animal has no signs of illness during this time. When it reaches the brain, the virus multiplies rapidly and passes to the salivary glands.

What is the longest incubation period for rabies?

According to Blanton, the typical human incubation time for rabies is approximately 60 days. However, there have been cases of rabies with an incubation time as little as 7 days and the longest incubation period documented is in excess of 8 years.

Why are rabies victims afraid of water?

People used to call rabies hydrophobia because it appears to cause a fear of water. The reason is that the infection causes intense spasms in the throat when a person tries to swallow. Even the thought of swallowing water can cause spasms, making it appear that the individual is afraid of water.

Why is rabies so deadly?

The main reason why we perceive rabies as being so deadly is because, for most of the time while the virus is in us, we see no symptoms. The virus travels along our nerves to the brain, but we don’t get symptoms until it reaches the brain — at which point, it’s too late to stop it.

Why does the onset of rabies vary from time to time?

The reason there is so much variation in the time between exposure and the onset of the disease is that many factors come into play, including the site of the exposure, the type of rabies virus, and any immunity in the animal or person exposed. An animal is bitten by a rabid animal. Rabies virus from the infected saliva enters the wound.

How long does it take for rabies to kill dogs?

This process can last approximately 3 to 12 weeks. The animal has no signs of illness during this time. When it reaches the brain, the virus multiplies rapidly and passes to the salivary glands. The animal begins to show signs of the disease. The infected animal usually dies within 7 days of becoming sick.

What happens when an animal is bitten by a rabid animal?

An animal is bitten by a rabid animal. Rabies virus from the infected saliva enters the wound. Rabies virus travels through the nerves to the spinal cord and brain. This process can last approximately 3 to 12 weeks.