Team Jacob: Werewolfism or Rabies?

Fans of the Twilight series are divided between Team Edward (the vampire) and Team Jacob (the werewolf). Both are potential love interests for the mortal heroine, Bella Swan.

For those of you who have read the Twilight series, you know that Author Stephenie Meyer has explained the cause of werewolfism differently from the historical beliefs of werewolfism (where the condition is passed by werewolf bites). My last blog examined the connection between vampires and tuberculosis or syphilis. But did you know that the traditional belief of werewolfism may have been caused in part by the association between werewolves and the infectious disease rabies?

Rabies, a viral disease transmitted by the bite of an infected animal (e.g., rabid wolf), can cause symptoms such as anxiety, confusion, excitation, hallucinations, and excessive salivation. Some people infected with rabies have even been reported to go into violent rages and howl like wolves!

Rabies is fatal without treatment, so if you've been bitten by a wild animal, it is important to see your doctor right away. Treatment consists of a rabies vaccination that is given in a series of five shots over a 28-day period. As a preventive measure (as opposed to treatment), the vaccine is generally not needed for most people, with the exception of those who work with wild animals.

It seems like a lot of unexplained folklore and "odd conditions" have been found to have infectious disease origins. Even diseases such as cancer and heart disease have been linked to viruses and other microbes. Makes you wonder how many afflictions are actually caused by infectious diseases!