Is Rabies Curable?

Rabies is, to quote the Mayo Clinic, a "deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals," usually through a bite. It is treatable up until the victim begins showing signs or symptoms.

Time Frame

Symptoms of rabies in a human can develop anywhere from 10 days to 7 years. A bite victim must seek treatment within 2 days for the best prognosis.

Treatment

Treatment involves a series of five relatively painless immune globulin injections in the arm (no longer in the sternum), over a course of 28 days.

Symptoms

Symptoms of rabies, according to the Mayo Clinic, include fever, headache, agitation, confusion and anxiety, difficulty swallowing, excess salivation, and fear of water.

Prognosis

Treatment for individuals who seek attention within a few days of a bite has proven 100 percent effective in curing the disease. The fatality rate is 100 percent after the onset of symptoms.

Treating Animals

Veterinarians do not treat animals with rabies or animals that have been bitten by animals with rabies; they euthanize the animals.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Rabies FAQs
• Mayo Clinic: Rabies
• National Institutes of Health Medline: Rabies