At this time the first symptoms develop, pain and paresthesias at the site of the bite. The virus is slowly transported to the brain and this may take days to years. Once in the brain, the virus affects the limbus system and produces bizarre and aggressive behaviors. The viruses then travel to other parts of the body by peripheral nerves including the salivary glands. Spread to the salivary glands makes the animal infectious.
Most animals succumb about ten days after the onset of clinical symptoms.
In humans, exposure is from the bite of a rabid animal, contamination of an open wound with saliva of an infected animal, or contact with viruses in a laboratory setting. Although exposures without a true bite can inoculate a large number of viral particles, cases of rabies associated with scratches, abrasions, or licking are unusual. There have been case reports of rabies after exposure to aerosolized saliva in caves and after the transplantation of corneas from donors with unrecognized rabies. Exposure to urine, feces, blood, or petting a rabid animal, does not constitute an exposure. Teach children not to provoke animals.