After the symptoms of appear, the disease is nearly always
fatal. The virus damages the , which includes the brain and
spinal cord. To prevent rabies, you must get care before
symptoms develop. Symptoms in humans may take from several days
to more than a year to appear, although most people have signs
of disease within 2 to 3 months. Medical care to prevent rabies
is advised even if symptoms do not appear soon after exposure to
the virus. Signs in animals Rabid animals-those infected with
rabies-may display noticeable signs or behavioral changes. An
animal that has bitten someone and is or was acting strangely
may be rabid. It is important to observe the animal when
possible in order to provide proper and timely preventive
treatment to any person who may have been exposed. An animal
that shows any of the following signs may have rabies: - No fear
of humans shown by a wild animal - Shyness in a usually friendly
pet - Restlessness, excitability, aggression, or sudden mood
changes - Excessive drooling - An anima