Why is Rabies so Deadly?

We’ve cured diseases like polio and smallpox — why are we still so scared of rabies?

“Frank, what are you doing? Don’t bite me, Frank, you could give me rabies!” Photo by David Taffet.

Even long before Stephen King penned “Cujo”, the spectre of rabies has been a terrifying prospect.

It’s a disease that modifies the behavior of the host — when someone is infected with rabies, their neural pathways are altered. Diseases like rabies are commonly featured (or blamed) in zombie films and games. Even in real life, it’s a scary prospect — a disease where, by the time you start showing symptoms, you’re already dead.

Rabies is transmitted by animal bites, which is already a scary thought (just imagine an aggressive animal coming at you, foaming at the mouth and determined to maul you). And if you don’t go in for early treatment, the virus can’t be stopped once it gains a significant foothold in your system. You’re doomed to a painful, early death.

Why is rabies so deadly and scary to us? We’ve eliminated other deadly diseases, like smallpox. Most of the most common conditions, like the cold or flu, are unlikely to prove lethal.

What makes rabies so deadly?

How the Rabies Virus Spreads

The short answer: rabies is a virus that targets the central nervous system. It’s usually spread through saliva and sexual secretions.