More confusion, more agitation, more aggression => a greater likelihood of a biting incident.
The virus paralyzes the throat muscles, preventing the animal from swallowing properly. This produces the "foaming at the mouth", and makes it easier for the virus to spread via a bite.
There's a misconception of "hydrophobia" with rabies, but a rabid animal would certainly drink if it could swallow properly.
dave_890 t1_jdkp989 wrote
Reply to How does the rabies virus actually compel the host to bite? How does it know how to tell the brain to bite another living thing? by Lettuce-b-lovely
More confusion, more agitation, more aggression => a greater likelihood of a biting incident.
The virus paralyzes the throat muscles, preventing the animal from swallowing properly. This produces the "foaming at the mouth", and makes it easier for the virus to spread via a bite.
There's a misconception of "hydrophobia" with rabies, but a rabid animal would certainly drink if it could swallow properly.