Title: Rabies Virus Unveiled: A Shocking Twist in The Hunger Games Prequel
In the recently released prequel of The Hunger Games, titled Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a surprising plot twist takes center stage involving the rabies virus. If you haven’t read or watched the prequel yet, we strongly advise against continuing to read this article as it contains spoilers that are necessary to discuss the role of this pathogen in the story.
The male tribute from district 12 in the tenth Hunger Games, Jessup, becomes a central character in this unexpected turn of events. Jessup and his partner Lucy Gray are introduced as allies with the objective of supporting each other in the deadly arena. However, for some mysterious reason, Jessup eventually turns against Lucy Gray, joining the rest of the fighters in their attempt to kill her.
It is Coriolanus Snow, observing everything from behind the camera, who discovers that Jessup is infected with the rabies virus. Realizing this upon seeing Jessup’s mouth foaming as he tries to attack Lucy Gray, Snow recalls Lucy mentioning that her partner was bitten by a bat during their journey to the Capitol. This revelation clicks into place, as bats are known to be one of the primary carriers of the rabies virus.
One common symptom of rabies infection is the presence of foam in the mouth, both in animals and humans. This occurs because the virus affects the nervous system, impairing the ability to swallow properly. As a result, saliva accumulates and takes on a foamy consistency. While foam in the mouth can be attributed to various illnesses, it is highly representative of rabies. Remarkably, the prequel sets the stage by featuring a rabid dog in the opening scene, emphasizing this imagery in the viewer’s mind.
The clues don’t stop at foaming mouths and bat bites. Another hint of Jessup’s illness emerges when Lucy Gray attempts to offer him water from a puddle to alleviate his deteriorating condition while they hide under the sand. Instead of accepting the water, Jessup rejects it and responds aggressively towards Lucy Gray. This behavior is another characteristic of rabies, as the virus manipulates its host to facilitate its spread. Hydrophobia, or a fear of water, is induced to reduce saliva dilution and thereby increase the chances of viral transmission through bites.
Furthermore, the rabies virus is known to cause violent behavior in its hosts. Despite their strong friendship and Jessup’s act of heroism when he protects Lucy Gray from a bat bite, he ultimately succumbs to the aggressive tendencies brought on by the infection, turning on her and attempting to kill her. This behavior aligns with the nature of the rabies virus, enabling infected individuals to attack healthy individuals and transmit the virus through bites.
While the portrayal of the rabies virus in The Hunger Games prequel is captivating, there is one slight drawback. Typically, the incubation period for rabies lasts between 2 and 3 months, although there have been extreme cases lasting as short as a week or as long as a year. In the case of Jessup, the exact duration of his incubation remains uncertain due to the limited timeline mentioned in the story. The tributes spend only a couple of days in their holding area before entering the arena, and Jessup’s attack occurs on the second day of the Hunger Games. As the bite occurred during their train journey from District 12 to the Capitol, the time spent on the train is not specified. Therefore, we cannot definitively determine how long Jessup’s incubation period was before symptoms appeared. However, it is plausible that it took less than two months and could potentially have been as short as a week.
In conclusion, the plot twist featuring the rabies virus in The Hunger Games prequel adds an intriguing layer of complexity to the story. The inclusion of bats as carriers, the foamy mouth symptom, aversion to water, and violent behavior showcase the author’s attention to detail and scientific accuracy. While the incubation time may be subject to slight artistic liberties, the overall portrayal of the rabies virus enhances the narrative’s suspense and depicts the devastating impact of the infection on both individuals and the society they inhabit.
