Rabies / Moon Madness
Transmission & Vectors
Rabies is spread through contaminated bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, and urine. Ingesting a contaminated animal is the most common method of transmission. The second most common method is when being attacked by a rabid animal saliva transfers into the bloodstream.
Causes
Unknown.
Symptoms
- The first signs of rabies are quietly muttering to oneself, hallucinations, and dead silence. These signs are often overlooked. At this stage, the animal is the least contagious and if eaten or killed, there is a low chance of being infected.
- The second sign of rabies is persistent twitching of the body. It typically starts in the face and head and then spreads to the limbs jerking uncontrollably. Eventually, seizures begin and the animal is either abandoned or killed if it lives in a social group. The stage has a medium chance for infected others through bites or being ingested.
- The third sign of rabies is the rage and homicidal stage. Animals begin foaming at the mouth and attacking all moving things on sight. Small herbivores will attack much larger predators without hesitation or fear. Social animals will attack friends or family without care. This is the stage where the animal is most contagious. Killing the infected animal by mouth or being bitten by them, is almost guaranteed to infect the new animal. Because of this, traps have to be created in order to kill the infected animal without getting infected.
- The final stage of rabies is organ failure. The infected animal refuses to eat but will continue to drink water. Their organs eventually begin to stop functioning and the infected animal will die of either starvation or cardiac arrest. Only a few of the more intellectual species know of this stage as they have taken the time to study the disease.
Treatment
There is no treatment for rabies.
Affected Groups
Rabies tends to affect males more often than females.
Hosts & Carriers
Only mammals are capable of contracting rabies. All except mustelids.
Prevention
There is no known prevention for rabies though this hasn't stopped scammers from claiming to have created preventions. The religious also believe if they are devout enough their gods will prevent them from catching the disease.
Cultural Reception
What happens to an infected animal when they're discovered depends on what species it is.
Herd animals such as deers, elk, and caribou will abandon the infected member hoping a predator will hunt them instead of the rest of the herd.
Bison and horses will kill their infected members by trampling them. They typically have every member of the herd take part as a sign of unity.
Bears, bobcats, and other similar solitary creatures will not do anything about an infected animal, but they will warn others, including other species to stay away from the infected animal.
Wolves are one of the few species that know of the fourth stage. However, how they treat their infected varies wildly by the pack of wolves. The Yggdrasil Pack will immediately kill any wolf suspected of having rabies. Unfortunately, this leads to the killing of wolves with other illnesses that cause seizures as well.
Feral dogs will typically kill an infected member but have also been known to use them bioweapons against other feral dog packs. Domesticated dogs, on the other hand, allow their humans to deal with infected dogs.
Herd animals such as deers, elk, and caribou will abandon the infected member hoping a predator will hunt them instead of the rest of the herd.
Bison and horses will kill their infected members by trampling them. They typically have every member of the herd take part as a sign of unity.
Bears, bobcats, and other similar solitary creatures will not do anything about an infected animal, but they will warn others, including other species to stay away from the infected animal.
Wolves are one of the few species that know of the fourth stage. However, how they treat their infected varies wildly by the pack of wolves. The Yggdrasil Pack will immediately kill any wolf suspected of having rabies. Unfortunately, this leads to the killing of wolves with other illnesses that cause seizures as well.
Feral dogs will typically kill an infected member but have also been known to use them bioweapons against other feral dog packs. Domesticated dogs, on the other hand, allow their humans to deal with infected dogs.
Type
Viral
Origin
Natural
Cycle
Short-term
Rarity
Uncommon
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