CASE STUDY Harry was driving to the university when he suddenly saw a dog writhing on the roadside, having just been hit by a car. Harry stopped, wrapped the dog in a blanket, and started driving to a...

CASE STUDY

Harry was driving to the university when he suddenly saw a dog writhing on the roadside, having just been hit by a car. Harry stopped, wrapped the dog in a blanket, and started driving to a veterinarian’s office. While wrapping the dog, Harry was covered in its blood, and was bitten and scratched several times. The dog died en route to the animal hospital, so Harry disposed of it in a convenient dumpster. Some weeks later, Harry’s roommate noticed strange behavior in Harry. He became reclusive, insisted on closing drapes over the window, refused to have lights on in the room, stopped eating, was very thirsty but refused to drink water and other liquids, laid in bed, and made strange noises. Finally his roommate asked Student Health to come to the dorm and examine Harry. They did, and had to take him away forcibly to the hospital, where he died a few days later. What do you think the diagnosis was? How was the infection acquired? Think carefully before you stop to help an injured animal—this case is based on a true story.