Rabies is such a powerful word, with even the mention of the virus's malevolent name causing all to conjure up images of teeth and anger and foam spilling out. This virus is what I hope to have Russetcrown contract as a final farewell. I know Russetcrown--I know him very well--and I know that this old warrior would not want to go down without a fight. Rabies is a deadly virus; a deadly virus that will indeed make poor old Russetcrown fight until the end . . . The most common way for one to contract rabies is through a bite or through direct contact with saliva or brain matter from a carrier of the virus. Although any mammal can be a transmitter of the virus, the most common tend to be bats, mongooses, skunks, foxes, and raccoons. Dogs have also been historically important reservoirs for the virus, but due to new vaccine mandates for pets, carriers are now less frequent, especially in the US. Once, however, one becomes in contact with a rabid animal, the virus immediately begins to travel to the brain. Due to the way rabies works, symptoms only start appearing once the virus reaches there, and the time before that happens is known as the incubation period. It varies and typically lasts about 2-4 weeks depending on where the exposure occurred, the type of rabies, and existing immunity. After it does inevitably reach the brain, the symptoms are devastating. These lethal symptoms progress in three stages: the prodromal stage, the furious or mad dog stage, and, finally, the paralytic stage. The prodromal stage occurs in the first two to three days of symptoms. This first stage is typically characterized by a change in temperament (e.g. an outgoing cat becoming shy and vice versa) and a change in voice caused by spasms in the larynx. A tingling sensation at the site of the bite may also occur. At this stage, however, it is unlikely for the virus to be transmitted at this stage due to a lack of aggression. This aggression occurs in the next one to seven days in the furious stage. The furious stage is what most typically imagine when they think of rabies with cats losing all of their fear and becoming very aggressive and psychotic. This is the most psychologically detrimental stage to the carrier as well with the virus bringing anxiety, confusion, paranoia, and terror eventually leading to delirium. These symptoms seem to be similar to some Cluster A personality disorders, but that, of course, is an essay for another day. Still, hallucinations may also occur, and the famous foaming from the mouth begins as a result of the virus attacking the nervous system and preventing the victim from swallowing. This inability to swallow often causes hydrophobia and sometimes aerophobia in carriers as attempting to drink water or breathe air directly often causes great pain. The rabies virus was actually once known as simply hydrophobia because of this. (Side note: I love how symbolic this symptom would be for Russetcrown as he always suffered from hydrophobia as a kit and apprentice. As a warrior, he learned to get over it for the most part (although he still hates getting wet), but now if contracts rabies, he would go back to those early days when he shivered at even the thought of water.) Yet soon, all things must come to an end. The final, paralytic stage sets in and the victim is soon to pass in two to four days. Weakness and paralysis slowly set in, eventually putting the cat in a coma-like state. When the muscles that control breathing inevitably become paralyzed, death usually occurs within a few hours. This solemnly ends the fight. Sources: "How is Rabies Transmitted?" https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/transmission/index.html "Rabies in Cats." https://www.smalldoorvet.com/learning-center/medical/rabies-in-cats "Rabies - WHO." https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20forms%20of,due%20to%20cardio%2Drespiratory%20arrest. "Signs of a Rabid Cat and What to Do If Your Pet is Exposed." https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.hillspet.com/cat-care/healthcare/rabies-in-cats "What are the Signs and Symptoms of Rabies?" https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/symptoms/index.html
