plural rabies
: an acute virus disease of the nervous system of mammals that is caused by a rhabdovirus (species Rabies virus of the genus Lyssavirus) usually transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal and that is characterized typically by increased salivation, abnormal behavior, and eventual paralysis and death when untreated
Examples of rabies in a Sentence
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The owner of the attacking dog showed police documentation for rabies.
—
cleveland, 20 Jan. 2023
Animal control officers told KYTV that one dog had not been vaccinated for rabies and the owners could not provide proof of vaccination for the other.
—Steve Helling, Peoplemag, 22 Dec. 2022
In one study, 11% of cats tested in Puerto Rico were positive for rabies.
—Judy Stone, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022
All of the dogs taken into custody from the house involved in the fatal mauling of 4-year-old Lea Freeman have been euthanized and will be tested for rabies, Dallas Animal Services announced Wednesday.
—Dallas News, 13 July 2022
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cleveland, 20 Jan. 2023
Animal control officers told KYTV that one dog had not been vaccinated for rabies and the owners could not provide proof of vaccination for the other.
—Steve Helling, Peoplemag, 22 Dec. 2022
In one study, 11% of cats tested in Puerto Rico were positive for rabies.
—Judy Stone, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022
All of the dogs taken into custody from the house involved in the fatal mauling of 4-year-old Lea Freeman have been euthanized and will be tested for rabies, Dallas Animal Services announced Wednesday.
—Dallas News, 13 July 2022
See all Example Sentences for rabies
Dictionary Entries Near rabies
Cite this Entry
“Rabies.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabies. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rabies
noun
ra·bies
ˈrā-bēz 
: a disease of the nervous system of mammals that is caused by a virus usually passed on by the bite of an animal already infected with it and is always deadly if untreated
Medical Definition
rabies
noun
ra·bies
ˈrā-bēz
plural rabies
: an acute virus disease of the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals that is transmitted in infected saliva usually through the bite of a rabid animal and that is typically characterized by fatigue, headache, fever, and general discomfort progressing to increased salivation, excitability, confusion, muscle weakness and spasms, hallucinations, abnormal behavior, paralysis, coma, and death
Note: Rabies has a long incubation period that averages several weeks but may be as long as several years. Once the symptoms appear, rabies is typically untreatable and fatal. If received soon after the bite of a rabid animal, treatment is usually effective and involves administration of immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccine injections. Rabies is caused by a rhabdovirus (species Rabies virus of the genus Lyssavirus).
called also hydrophobia
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