As rabies advances and causes inflammation of the brain and meninges, symptoms such as mild or partial paralysis, anxiety, sleeplessness, disorientation, agitation, strange behavior, paranoia, dread, and hallucinations may occur. The individual may also be afraid of water. Eventually, the symptoms escalate to delirium and coma. Unless the patient receives adequate treatment, including immunoglobulin and vaccine, he will die. The virus can enter the body through a bite from an infected animal, contact with infected saliva, or through the digestive tract. Once in the body, the virus multiplies using the cells of the immune system as its host. Rabies infection cannot be cured but treatments can help reduce the severity of the disease. Immunoglobulins are antibodies obtained by injecting healthy donors with serum taken from the blood of infected patients. They can treat people who have been exposed to the virus but not yet developed symptoms. Vaccines contain the material that stimulates the immune system to produce these antibodies. People at highest risk for developing severe symptoms should consider vaccination before exposure to the virus. In conclusion, rabies is a fatal disease. If you find yourself in need of a hospital after being bitten by an animal, then seek immediate medical assistance. Also, remember that animals that appear to be dead may actually be unconscious or only sleeping so be careful not to wake them up!