Why is getting bitten by a rabid animal so dangerous? - Charles Rupprecht

skunk

[countable] a small black and white North American animal that can produce a strong, unpleasant smell to defend itself when it is attacked

virus-laden

containing or carrying a high amount of virus, similar to having a high viral load, which refers to the quantity of virus present in a fluid, person, or environment.

throat

a passage in the neck through which food and air pass on their way into the body; the front part of the neck

spasm

​[countable, uncountable] a sudden and often painful contracting of a muscle, which you cannot control

inoculation

an act of protecting a person or an animal from catching a particular disease by injecting them with a mild form of the disease

prophylaxis

action that is taken in order to prevent disease

tortuously

​(usually disapproving) in a long, complicated way that is difficult to understand; to a degree that is difficult to bear

calamitous

​causing great damage to people’s lives, property, etc.synonym disastrous

in tow

(informal) if you have somebody in tow, they are with you and following closely behind

premonition

​a feeling that something is going to happen, especially something unpleasant

vengeful

showing a desire to punish somebody who has harmed you

crusade

a long and determined effort to achieve something that you believe to be right or to stop something that you believe to be wrong

synonym campaign

the crux (of something)

the most important or difficult part of a problem or an issue

synonym nub

maddening

making you feel extremely annoyed

synonym infuriating

hex

[countable] a word or phrase that has a magic power to harm somebody

• to put a hex on somebody

compare curse

grisly

​extremely unpleasant and frightening and usually relating to death and violence

encampment

a group of tents, huts, etc. where people live together, usually for only a short period of time

insidious

​spreading gradually or without being noticed, but causing serious harm

behemoth

something that is very big and powerful, especially a company or organization

scoff

[intransitive, transitive] to talk about somebody/something in a way that makes it clear that you think they are stupid or silly

synonym mock

pent-up

​(of feelings, energy, etc.) that cannot be expressed or released

poise

to be or hold something steady in a particular position, especially above something else

fallout

​the bad results of a situation or an action