How does Rabies factor into SS?

[peachykeen]

Okay I am trying not to sound frivolous, but has anyone else seen or heard of rabies and the symptoms in animals and immediately thought what if it mutated in humans, that would be exactly like zombie apocalypse. Just saying!

 

[sylvie]

From my understanding the aversion to water is the result of throat spasms, hydrophobia is a misnomer because they have aversion to swallowing food, too. The otter's environment is water so it makes sense that it would be there.

OK, I linked to this definition which discusses the throat spasms:
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/rabies

 

[Ohioann]

I live in one of the eastern Ohio counties that is affected by rabies. We have not seen a suspect animal but we live trap heavily, placing traps around our chicken houses. Two years ago we trapped 15 raccoon, 2 skunk and one opposum. Last year the numbers were down but we still trapped 8 raccoons and one skunk. We have 40 acres and only trap around the chicken houses because of bird losses to these critters. By the way in our area, it is against the rules to trap and release a distance away. Anything you trap on your property must be disposed of on your property, one way to help slow the spead of rabies. Our dogs are up to date on vaccinations and do not run. Be sure that if your dogs are loose, even if they stay on your property that their vaccinations are up to date...it's a nasty way to die. If you store dog or cat food outdoors make sure the food is secured. Raccoons can and will rip any bag open, knock over garbage cans and pop the tops and squeeze through almost any hole. Same with other animal feeds. As noted above they are strong enough to rip screen and chicken wire. We do not have guns because of personal reasons but if you shoot wild animals use universal precautions (gloves, etc) when handling the bodies and dispose of the body where other carnivores do not have access to it.

 

[sylvie]

Okay I am trying not to sound frivolous, but has anyone else seen or heard of rabies and the symptoms in animals and immediately thought what if it mutated in humans, that would be exactly like zombie apocalypse. Just saying!

We already have a few diseases and conditions that have similar symptoms.
In end stage liver failure the liver can no longer breakdown the by product of protein into urea to be secreted by the kidneys, resulting in a build up of ammonia in the brain which is encephalopathy, like Rabies. It presents as hallucinations, aversion to eating, agitation, stumbling, then death.
Mad Cow, Meningitis.
West Nile and Lyme Disease, both cause encephalitis, also similar. I'm sure there are more.
Why the need for Zombies?

 

[sylvie]

I live in one of the eastern Ohio counties that is affected by rabies. We have not seen a suspect animal but we live trap heavily, placing traps around our chicken houses. Two years ago we trapped 15 raccoon, 2 skunk and one opposum. Last year the numbers were down but we still trapped 8 raccoons and one skunk. We have 40 acres and only trap around the chicken houses because of bird losses to these critters. By the way in our area, it is against the rules to trap and release a distance away. Anything you trap on your property must be disposed of on your property, one way to help slow the spead of rabies. Our dogs are up to date on vaccinations and do not run. Be sure that if your dogs are loose, even if they stay on your property that their vaccinations are up to date...it's a nasty way to die. If you store dog or cat food outdoors make sure the food is secured. Raccoons can and will rip any bag open, knock over garbage cans and pop the tops and squeeze through almost any hole. Same with other animal feeds. As noted above they are strong enough to rip screen and chicken wire. We do not have guns because of personal reasons but if you shoot wild animals use universal precautions (gloves, etc) when handling the bodies and dispose of the body where other carnivores do not have access to it.

I am in an area heavily planted to landscape nurseries. They use the Have a Heart traps, but as you said, must dispose of on the property. None can be transported. They are shot in the traps, removed and buried. Most likely some are onboard with the health dept by saving for testing. The nuisance trappers/game wardens do not release even if the homeowner requests that.

 

[peachykeen]

Okay I am trying not to sound frivolous, but has anyone else seen or heard of rabies and the symptoms in animals and immediately thought what if it mutated in humans, that would be exactly like zombie apocalypse. Just saying!

We already have a few diseases and conditions that have similar symptoms.
In end stage liver failure the liver can no longer breakdown the by product of protein into urea to be secreted by the kidneys, resulting in a build up of ammonia in the brain which is encephalopathy, like Rabies. It presents as hallucinations, aversion to eating, agitation, stumbling, then death.
Mad Cow, Meningitis.
West Nile and Lyme Disease, both cause encephalitis, also similar. I'm sure there are more.
Why the need for Zombies?

I don't know, I think I have a zombie problem. :S Anytime I think of the coolest end of the world scenario, I end up debating if it's aliens or zombies. Or some kind of weird alien zombie battle. Yeah, I have problems.

Basically what got me thinking of rabies pertaining to a possible zombie outbreak is the confused, staggering walk and running into doors and walls blindly, and not to mention the fox that attached itself to a woman for two miles of jogging. It just screams zombie to me.

 

[The Vail Benton's]

Peachy, it's your end of world scenario, tell it however you want to!

 

[sylvie]

Peachy, it's your end of world scenario, tell it however you want to!

 

[meriruka]

My neighbors (all locals) agreed w/ my 'diagnoses' and told me the racoon was pretty far gone & would have died soon. I burned the body in the burn barrel, because burying or trashing in the county dumpster seemed like a bad idea. Did I do the right thing?

Anyway, just wanted to show that even if you have no experience of rabid animals (or wildlife at all, like me), sick ones are fairly easy to spot. Nocturnal critters should not be wandering around during the day and most wildlife should always want to flee when they see you -they should not attack or ignore you. (unless cornered, I guess.)

 

[peachykeen]

Peachy, it's your end of world scenario, tell it however you want to!

I already have my survival plan mapped out, it's very simple, I am going to find a zombie mob and follow them around, doing my best zombie impression. They never seem to eat each other in the movies. Feel free to use my idea!