| The rabies virus is usually transmitted to humans by a bite from an infected dog, but the bite of any animal (wild or domestic) is suspect in an area where rabies is present. In North America, skunks are the principal carriers of the disease, although the raccoon and bat populations are also affected. Symptoms of the disease appear after an incubation period of ten days to one year and include fever, breathing difficulties, and muscle spasms in the throat that make drinking painful. Death almost invariably occurs within three days to three weeks of the onset of symptoms. For this reason, the emphasis of treatment is on prevention. In the United States, veterinarians recommend regular vaccination of domestic dogs. |
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