Rabies



Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals.

Background
Examples of those with rabies or mentions of the disease are found both before and after the Great War. Before the war, several publications mention the disease, such as Backwoodsman issue #4 "Hardy as a Sasquatch, Rabies... Schmaybies!; Beat Blood Borne Diseases Faster" and Scouts' Life issue #5 "Identifying Rabies and Other Diseases." The Pioneer Scouts included the disease as a possible quiz answer while testing their members on medicine.

After the war, the disease remains a threat to those living in the wastelands. Head Scribe Vree notates in an autopsy report that she will conduct a rabies test on the decedent. One has the option of helping to cure a canine named Devil Dog of a rabies-like affliction, and there are several variants of mutated creatures described as rabid living in the Commonwealth and Appalachian regions of the former United States.

Rabies is also something to fear for the average person, such as the case with Bosco, the raider leader of D.B. Technical High School. A member of his crew, Torque, that owned a pet dog that contracted rabies and bit Bosco's hand. Rabies would set in quickly and Bosco would experience a list of the most common symptoms associated with rabies, including agitation, fear from his attempts to swallow fluid (Bosco believed in attempts to poison him), and vivid hallucinations concerning the bear mascot head of D.B. Technical. Frankie Beckett was also infected by rabies when fighting off rabid dogs, requiring his brother to steal medication to treat it. Beckett: "Listen to me, Frankie. Do you remember when we were kids and we were playing near that bombed-out factory in Maryland? Then those rabid dogs jumped out and surprised us? We ran and ran, but then I fell into that ditch and twisted my leg like a dumbass. Right? I told you to run, but what did you say to me, man? Try and remember." Frankie Beckett: "No, Beckett... I... those moments died when Frankie died. Only a fool dwells in the past. The Blood Eagles are our future!" Beckett: "No. There's no Claw, there's no Blood Eagles. There's just me and you right now. So shut up and listen! After the dogs were gone and you reached into the ditch to help me out. What. Did. You. Say? Tell me! Goddamn it, Frankie, tell me!" Frankie Beckett: "I... I said... I... we were brothers... and we'd never walk away from... from each other, no matter how bad... no matter... how..." Beckett: "...no matter how bad things became. Yeah. That's exactly right. You fought off those dogs with nothing but a goddamn broken baseball bat. It almost killed you, man. You... you saved me. You were so cut up from the fight, I thought I was going to lose you, Frankie." Frankie Beckett: "I remember... you stole those meds for me to fight off the rabies. You kept watch over me for weeks... I... why can't I see it clearly? The hell... happened to me, Beckett? God, this hurts... it hurts so much..." Beckett: "I know it hurts, man. I know it does. But whatever it takes, we'll get through this together. We're family and I love you, Frankie. Always have, always will."

Appearances
Rabies is mentioned only in Fallout, Van Buren, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76.