Q 01/05

What does the Latin word rabies mean?

A) Foam

B) Bite

C) Madness

D) Fever

Answer · why

C) Madness

The Greek lyssa, also 'madness', gives the virus genus its name.

Q 02/05

By what name was rabies historically known, from victims' panic at being offered a drink?

A) Lycanthropy

B) Hydrophobia

C) Dog fever

D) The bloody flux

Answer · why

B) Hydrophobia

Painful throat spasms on swallowing make drinking agonising.

Q 03/05

Which animal causes more than 99% of human rabies deaths where the disease is common?

A) Foxes

B) Monkeys

C) Bats

D) Dogs

Answer · why

D) Dogs

In the Americas, by contrast, bats are the main source and dogs cause under 5% of cases.

Q 04/05

What is the usual incubation period between infection and first symptoms in humans?

A) One to three years

B) A single week

C) One to three days

D) One to three months

Answer · why

D) One to three months

It depends on how far the virus must travel along nerves; it can range from under a week to over a year.

Q 05/05

What is the outcome once rabies symptoms appear?

A) Lifelong paralysis but survival

B) Almost always death

C) Recovery with treatment

D) Recovery in about half of cases

Answer · why

B) Almost always death

Only a handful of people have ever been documented surviving after showing symptoms.