Rabies: What travellers need to know about risks, prevention and vaccination

Rabies is a virus infection spread through the saliva of infected mammals. All mammals can carry rabies, but its most common in dogs, cats, monkeys, bats, raccoons, jackals and mongooses. It causes inflammation of the brain and is nearly always fatal without appropriate treatment before symptoms develop.

Rabies is present on all continents except Antarctica. 95% of all reported human rabies deaths occur in Africa and Asia.

Travellers are advised:

• NOT to approach or pick up wild or domestic animals
• NOT to attract stray animals by offering food or being careless with food litter
• Be aware that certain activities might attract dogs (e.g., running, cycling)
• NOT to attempt to pick up an unusually tame animal or one that appears unwell.

For travel purposes, Vaccination is recommended for:

• Travel to countries where rabies is a risk especially in remote areas, where urgent access to medical facilities or treatment is unlikely to be available, especially those staying for a month or more
• Children who will reside in rabies affected countries. Although the vaccine can be given at any age, the risk of animal bites may be higher once a child is able to crawl/walk independently. Children are often bitten around the face or head, which is considered a higher risk due to the expected shorter incubation period. Young children may also not tell you if they have been scratched or licked by a mammal

For more information see our rabies leaflet: https://www.welltravelledclinics.co.uk/useful-information-resources/patient-leaflets

Want to know whether Rabies vaccination would be recommended for your trip? Book an appointment at Well Travelled Clinics by telephoning: 0151 705 3223 or make a request at: https://www.welltravelledclinics.co.uk/request-an-appointment