A dangerous virus disease that affects the nervous system and is usually fatal once symptoms appear; spread through the saliva of infected animals.
From Latin 'rabies' meaning 'rage' or 'madness,' related to 'rabere' meaning 'to rage.' The disease was named for the violent behavior it causes in infected animals.
Rabies is one of the oldest recognized diseases—descriptions fitting rabies appear in ancient texts from thousands of years ago. It's almost 100% fatal once symptoms start, making it one of the most terrifying diseases humans know, yet it's preventable if you get the vaccine quickly enough after exposure.
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