Rabies -- Lark Trumbly

Although we don't need rabies shots to travel to Madagascar, the threat of rabies is very real for those who spend their lives there. With a 100% fatality rate, rabies is easily one of the least pleasant ways to die -- the brain becomes inflamed, leading to paralysis, hallucinations, insomnia, and/or paranoia. Additionally, the rabid individual is often incredibly thirsty while paradoxically displaying intense hydrophobia, frequently associated with "furious" rabies.

The Malagasy call rabies haromotana, or "twisted in fury," a reference to the foaming mouth and spastic motions of a rabies patient. The Institut Pasteur de Madagascar (IPM), founded in 1898, has continually sought to understand the spread and treatment of rabies. Moreover, the IPM offers free rabies treatments for those who may have been bitten (luckily for us). Researchers believe rabies could feasibly be eliminated in Madagascar as long as certain preventative measures (like vaccinating dogs) are taken. The United States has very few rabies cases -- hopefully Madagascar will soon be the same.

I'm not going to put a picture of rabies on here because it's terrifying, so here's a very non-rabid dog:

Source: http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2016/05/05/seeking-an-end-to-the-terror-of-rabies-in-madagascar/