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Rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted between animals and humans.

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Rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted between animals and humans.

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There are written records of the rabies virus dating back to 1930BC, though it does not provide direct information about a human contracting rabies, it does outline a fine that will be charged to owners of any dog that infects another human with rabies in Babylon.

Since this is such a historical virus, there are a plethora of proposed causes, and treatments from before modern medicine that are sad but also very interesting!

Ancient Greeks believed that Lyssa ('the spirit of mad rage') was the causative agent. It makes me curious about how the title of "lyssavirus" came to be.

There was another practice of removing a persons frenulum (connection between the bottom of the tongue and the mouth) since the theory at that time labeled that tissue as the origin of the virus.

Celsus, a Roman scholar, was the first to suggest *that we have documentation of* that it was the saliva of an infected dog that transmitted rabies to the human when bit.

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Virulence is the harm done by a pathogen to its host following infection.

Rabies is highly virulent, its mortality rate is near 100% once clinical symptoms appear. The virulence has decreased dramatically over time with the development of the rabies vaccine by Dr. Louis Pasteur in 1885. As access to this vaccine and education about the rabies virus became more widespread, people were able to prevent infection by vaccinating -or avoiding- dogs/other animals that serve as hosts. Humans do not receive the rabies vaccine as a routine vaccine but if they are bit by an animal that may potentially carry the virus they can be vaccinated soon after the bite to prevent the infection. If treatment is not received than rabies lyssavirus is still fatal, countries with limited access to the vaccine and higher populations of stray dogs are at higher risk. Children are the most affected group in these areas, and it is almost always fatal because of the lack of access to healthcare.

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There is no where untouched by rabies. There are cases of animals infected with rabies (most commonly dogs, bats, and raccoons) all over the world, and any of these animals can infect a human.

A vaccine has existed since 1885 and this virus is fully preventable because of it. A bite victim can even receive the vaccine after they are bit and reach a full recovery. In more progressed countries this vaccine is widely available and a case of rabies - specifically in humans- is a rare occurrence. The populations of India, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, and Kenya are at higher risk of infection because there are so many stray dogs. 95% of human rabies-related deaths occur in Africa and Asia, most of which are children.

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This disease has been handled through vaccination and education.

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This disease has been handled through vaccination and education.

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Rabies lyssavirus has been addressed by the medical community through education and vaccination. Because of the education it is widely known how rabies infects humans, the most common cause being bites from dogs infected with the virus. Other animals can infect humans as well but the most common is dogs and its always a bite. Because of this knowledge people know to be more careful around potentially infected animals and also to seek medical treatment after any bite even if it isn't considered severe or traumatic. Where possible dogs are vaccinated against the virus and when people report bites they are also vaccinated as a treatment. Some areas of the world that have less access to health care don't get the luxury of most dogs being vaccinated but they still gain information and know to be as careful as they can.

The most important new technology used against this virus is the vaccine that was created by Dr. Louis Pasteur in 1885.

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The National Rabies Management Program here in the U.S. is working on a project in efforts to eradicate terrestrial rabies. They are doing this by distributing ORV (Oral Rabies Vaccines) using bait, targeting racoons, canines, coyotes, and a variant of gray fox rabies. The Wildlife Services is working closely with local, state, and federal governments as well as educational institutions in this project. Leadership in the U.S. has done very well with their handling of rabies, widespread education of the cause and how to prevent rabies has helped people to be more aware and careful around animals. Mandated rabies vaccines for domesticated dogs and cats has also helped to lower the population susceptible to rabies, targeting animals since humans are infected with rabies through bites of infected animals (most commonly dogs).

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The primary changes to society were just that society became more educated. There were some behavioral effects though as well which includes the regulation of rabies vaccines in domestic animals, as well as people knowing to give stray animals their space. Rabies has been recognized for a very long time though so society has gone through a few different phases in regards to the rabies virus and the more well off cultures that have more access to education and medicine had a much more clean and effecting shift in knowledge and behaviors surround the prevention of rabies lyssavirus and the treatments of animal bites. We now to contact established resources for aid in handling of wild animals as well to help lower the incidence or risk of contracting a disease or harming the animal.

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I think the most revealing aspect I learned about my disease of choice is that people need a source to place blame, and also that society should be better about accessibility to vaccines in underprivileged areas.. I was upset with how most of the human deaths today occur in underprivileged countries specifically in children. I was surprised to learn about how the Ancient Greeks believed the Lyssa, their spirit of mad rage, was the causative agent of rabies and I am curious how the term "lyssavirus" came to be. I think this is something that should have been included, purely because it is an interesting curiosity on whether this is coincidence or a purposeful selection of wording.