Why is getting bitten by a rabid animal so dangerous? - Charles Rupprecht (Level 1)

Rabies is a very dangerous sickness. It comes from a virus. Animals like dogs and bats carry this virus. If a sick animal bites a person, the virus goes into the person's body. The virus moves through the nerves to the brain. It hides from the body's defenses. When the virus reaches the brain, people get very sick. They might feel angry, weak, or afraid of water. Once these signs start, the person will almost always die. But there is good news. We have medicine to stop the virus. In 1885, a young boy named Joseph was bitten by a sick dog. A scientist named Louis Pasteur gave him a new medicine. Joseph lived! Today, doctors use similar medicine called a vaccine. If an animal bites you, you must see a doctor right away. The vaccine can save your life if you get it early.