an acute viral disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals (usually transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal); rabies is fatal if the virus reaches the brain
"The veterinarian urgently quarantined the dog after it bit the child, fearing that any delay in treatment could allow the fatal rabies virus to reach its brain."
An infectious disease caused by species of Lyssavirus that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals and people, characterised by abnormal behaviour such as biting, excitement, aggressiveness, and dementia, followed by paralysis and death.
"The stray dog was immediately euthanized after testing positive for rabies to prevent the deadly virus from spreading through the neighborhood."