Rabies is caused by the rabies virus, a member of the Lyssavirus genus in the Rhabdoviridae family. After an infected animal bites, the virus enters the body through saliva and attaches to nerve cells near the wound. It then travels slowly along the peripheral nerves toward the spinal cord and brain using the body’s own nerve transport mechanisms. Once it reaches the brain, it multiplies rapidly, causing inflammation and neurological symptoms like confusion, paralysis, and hydrophobia. From the brain, the virus spreads to salivary glands, allowing further transmission through bites.