1. How do you get rabies?
You can get the rabies virus from the saliva of a rabid animal – in most cases, by being bitten.
Any mammal can get rabies, and there are a few wild mammals which are commonly infected.
Most dogs get rabies from skunks due to their natural attraction towards skunks.
Most people get rabies from bats.
Science TEKS
7.11 (A) Analyze changes due to internal stimuli
7.11 (B) Identify responses in organisms to external stimuli
Raccoons, bats, skunks, and coyotes are common carriers of the rabies virus
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2. What does the virus do?
The virus replicates itself within the cell. The copies of the virus then burst out of the cell and move on to infect other cells.
Science TEKS
7.11 (A) Analyze changes due to internal stimuli
7.11 (B) Identify responses in organisms to external stimuli
After a rabid animal bites another animal, the virus in the saliva attaches itself to a nerve cell.
See our online curriculum to learn more about nerve cells and the nervous system.
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3. The Virus at Work The virus also infects the salivary glands.
The virus travels all the way to the brain and throughout the nervous system, causing severe inflammation.
The virus also infects the salivary glands.
Science TEKS
7.11 (A) Analyze changes due to internal stimuli
7.11 (B) Identify responses in organisms to external stimuli
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4. What are the symptoms? The disease has three stages.
Prodromal: Animal changes personality. For example, a shy animal becomes friendly.
Furious: Animal becomes angry, commonly bites, and might continuously drool.
Paralytic: Animal loses the ability to move, especially in the jaw, and will drool even more.
Science TEKS
7.11 (A) Analyze changes due to internal stimuli
7.11 (B) Identify responses in organisms to external stimuli
It usually takes 1-3 months for symptoms to appear after an animal is infected with the virus.
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5. Where is rabies found?
The virus is found all over the world and is in every state in the U.S. except Hawaii.
Most cases occur due to bites from infected wildlife.
In 2001, there were over 7,000 reported cases of rabies in the U.S.
Science TEKS
7.11 (A) Analyze changes due to internal stimuli
7.11 (B) Identify responses in organisms to external stimuli
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6. How to Protect Yourself
Do not approach mammals in the wild and get away from any wild animals that act tame around you.
Keep your pets vaccinated for rabies and do not let them run around with wild animals.
Rabies
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Science TEKS
7.11 (A) Analyze changes due to internal stimuli
7.11 (B) Identify responses in organisms to external stimuli
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7. The Rabies Vaccine
The vaccine is a inactivated virus usually grown in a chicken embryo.
The vaccine should be given to animals every 3 years and to people that work around wild animals.
Science TEKS
7.11 (A) Analyze changes due to internal stimuli
7.11 (B) Identify responses in organisms to external stimuli
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8. Vaccinating Wildlife
The Texas Wildlife Damage Management Service has a vaccination program that delivers the rabies vaccine orally using food bait.
TWDM agents at work
The program is reducing the spread of rabies among coyotes in South Texas and gray foxes in West Texas.
For more information about the TWDM’s oral vaccination program:
Science TEKS
7.11 (A) Analyze changes due to internal stimuli
7.11 (B) Identify responses in organisms to external stimuli
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