Rabies

Once symptoms are present, rabies is almost always fatal.¹ So prevention and early treatment are crucial.

Being bitten or scratched by infected animals such as dogs (which account for 99% of human cases), bats or foxes. The rabies virus is found in saliva.³

Rabies occurs in over 100 countries in the world but some countries, particularly in rural areas of Africa and Asia, are high-risk areas (see map).²

The initial symptoms can include pain and tingling/numbness around the site of the wound, nausea, vomiting, and even sometimes a fear of water (hydrophobia).³ As it spreads through the brain, it can cause hyperactivity, changes in consciousness and paralysis.

In the majority of cases, it usually takes 1-3 months before symptoms to start to show, although this has been shown to take up to 1 year. ³

By the time symptoms develop, few people survive.³

You can take the following precautions to help reduce your risk of infection:

• Visit your nearest convenient pharmacy or specialist travel health clinic for a risk assessment before your trip
• Avoid contact with animals that may bite⁴
• If you are bitten or scratched, the wound should be cleaned thoroughly with plenty of soap and water, and treated with a disinfectant containing iodine or another substance that kills viruses.⁴ Seek medical help immediately.