Rabies is a virus that is usually transmitted through an animal bite. It takes 2 months on average for symptoms of rabies to appear after infection, starting with fever or headache and progressing to nervous system issues like confusion, sleepiness, or agitation. Once symptoms appear, the infected person rarely survives, so it is crucial to see a doctor immediately after any animal bite, especially from a wild animal, to prevent the onset of the deadly rabies virus.