Rabies
Rabies is a ‘zoonotic’ disease meaning it is caused by a virus which can be passed from animals to humans. It is found on all continents and infects wild and domestic animals. Worldwide, more than 50,000 people die of rabies every year, most of whom are aged 15 years or less.
People are at risk if they are bitten by an infected animal, typically a rabid dog. While dogs cause around 99% of cases, bat rabies has also recently emerged as a public health threat in Australia, Latin America and Western Europe. Human deaths following exposure to foxes, raccoons, skunks, jackals, mongooses and other wild carnivore host species can occur but are very rare.
If left untreated, rabies is nearly always fatal but swift administration of post-exposure prophylaxis with rabies immunoglobulins can prove highly effective.
Is it preventable?
Yes, rabies can be prevented by immunisation. However, despite the development of a safe and effective vaccine against rabies, the disease continues to threaten human life, particularly in Asia and Africa where 95% of cases are recorded.
My family and I are visiting Africa this Christmas and are unsure whether we need to have rabies vaccine. We are going to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. Can you advise us.
And can you please explain how these vaccines are given, I understand we may have to have one and then another a week later followed by another a month later?
Thank you.
Thanks for your question Gabriela,
I checked with our editorial board but the best advice we can give is to see your doctor, visit a travel clinic or a tropical medicine specialist. There may be several travel vaccines suitable for your trip depending on exactly where you’re going, where you’re travelling from and what vaccines you’ve had in the past. So it’s best to consult your own doctor who will be able to give you a more specific answer.
is there anyway you can catch rabies from the rabies vaccine?
Good question Fiona. You can’t catch rabies from the rabies vaccine is made using a ‘killed’ rabies virus (rather than a live one) so you won’t catch the disease.
The vaccine provides protection against rabies which, as outlined above, is a very serious disease. The vaccine can give you a sore arm after injection and, on rare occasions, can have other side effects like fever.
Does the vaccine always making your arm ache cause my first one ached abit then second one didn’t ache. Worries you they maybe didn’t do it right.
Hi Fiona,
My best advice in this case, in line with out guidelines principles, is to check with your doctor.
hi, how far apart do you have to have each vaccine? and how soon after having other vaccines can you get the rabies vaccine?
Hi Lucy,
Thanks for your question. This really is something you have to discuss with your doctor or a travel medicine clinic. They can help you decide which vaccines you might need and when to have them.
Sorry we can’t be of more help with your specific query.
What do dogs, bats, foxes, raccoons, skunks, jackals and mongooses have in common? http://t.co/kJmLDOuZ #rabies
My daughter is going to south africa in september. Is it advisable for her to have the rabies vaccination before going?
Dear Janet,
The best advice we can offer is to contact your health provider. They can advise your daughter depending on where exactly she is going and based on her medical history.
Hi
My son is 3 years old, as we are living in Egypt I am considering having him vacinated. What is the minimum age to give rabies vacinations to children please?
Hi Melanie,
We understand your question and concern as rabies is a devastating disease, and children cannot always say they have been scratched, licked or bitten by and animal. Our rules of engagement do not permit us provide medical advises, so we recommend that you consult a vaccination centre to have advice adapted to your exact situation. There, your doctor will provide you with all appropriate information and medical expertise. To prepare for that discussion you might like to read some of the official resources available online. There are many, but here a few that could be of interest:
CDC (US health autority, adapted to US only)
Kids vaccination, including rabies
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-7-international-travel-infants-children/vaccine-recommendations-for-infants-and-children.htm
Rabies and kids :
http://www.cdc.gov/rabiesandkids/
WHO (World Health Organization)
https://apps.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact099.html
World Rabies Day
http://www.worldrabiesday.org/
http://www.worldrabiesday.org/EN/education-bank-old/english.html
Children Hospital of Philadelphia (adapted to US only)
http://www.chop.edu/service/vaccine-education-center/a-look-at-each-vaccine/rabies-vaccine.html
Hi,
My toddler was bitten by a rabbit at a petting zoo (in the netherlands) today, there was a lot of bleeding and it is a nasty wound on both sides of the finger. I took her to the doctor who bandaged her and said she should be fine if all her vaccinations are up to date, but she has not had a rabies vaccine in her standard vaccinations, so should I take her to get one?
Hi Laura,
Sorry to hear about your daughter’s experience. I hope she’s feeling better.
Your doctor is the best person to give you medical advice so if you still have questions after your first visit to the clinic you could consider calling back and asking for more information or contacting another health professional directly.
Kind regards,
Gary