Travel Vaccination Spotlight: Rabies

When most people think of rabies, they think of filthy junk-yard dogs foaming at the mouth. However, rabies isn’t limited to canines. Rabies can affect all warm-blooded animals, including humans. And with only a handful of rabies-free pockets across the world, they’re an important travel vaccination everyone should receive.

About Rabies

To be fair, most infections do stem from dog bites. Other common carriers include cats, monkeys, tigers, rabbits, rats, mongooses, and squirrels. But aside from foaming mouths, what exactly is rabies?

Rabies is an acute viral infection usually transmitted by the bite or scratch of an infected animal. The virus attacks nerves and muscles throughout the body. Essentially, after attacking the central nervous system, rabies causes brain disease and death.

However, treatment after exposure, known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), is highly successful in preventing the disease if administered promptly, generally within ten days of infection.

Symptoms

Early Symptoms

• Fever
• Headache
• General weakness or discomfort

Later Symptoms

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Slight/Partial Paralysis
• Excitaton
• Hallucinations
• Agitation
• Hypersalivation
• Difficult Swallowing
• Hydrophobia (fear of water)

Travel Vaccinations for Rabies

Any traveler who plans on living in a high-risk area for over a month should be vaccinated. Also, any traveler who plans on excessive contact with animals should also be vaccinated.

The rabies travel vaccination comes in 3 injections on day 0, day 7, and day 21 or 28. Like most other travel vaccinations, rabies should be planned in advance. For more information about rabies and travel vaccinations, be sure to contact your local travel clinic.