[pdabbadabba]

> Basically if you get it you die.

There's a critical (literally life and death) clarification to be made here. As far as I know, it's emphatically not true that you're doomed as soon as you are infected with rabies. My understanding is that a rabies infection is actually quite treatable if caught early. That's why, if you think there is any chance that you've bit bitten by a rabid animal, you should seek treatment immediately.

I think its when you begin exhibiting symptoms that you're basically a goner. If that's what you mean by "get it," then I don't disagree with your comment. But I'm not sure that's how people would interpret it.

[Verdex]

Yes. Your statement is correct. It's "basically harmless" once it enters your body until it bumps into nerve cells. At which point you're almost certainly going to die unpleasantly.

My grandfather worked with rabies and I interviewed him for a school project. I remember being rather uncomfortable with his description of the disease. Perhaps a bit much to chew for a 4th grader. Anyway, the "once you show symptoms, you're dead" part really stuck with me.