Rabies virus, illustration. Rabies virus is a member of the Rhabdoviridae family. This bullet-shaped enveloped virus has a protein coat (capsid, blue), which is made up of helically arranged subunits called capsomeres. Within the coat is the genetic material in the form of single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA). The rabies virus is transmitted to humans from an infected animal bite. Symptoms appear after an incubation period of 10 days to 1 year and include fever, breathing difficulties, muscle spasms, and hydrophobia.