Rabies information for travellers
Updated 30 October 2019
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rabies-risks-for-travellers/rabies-information-for-travellers
This information is only intended for people who have been bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin or mucous membranes by an animal abroad in an area where rabies is present.
1. Rabies risks from animals overseas
Rabies is a rare but very serious infection of the brain and nerves. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Rabies is spread to people by contact with saliva from an infected wild or domestic animal, usually through a bite, scratch or a lick to broken skin.
Rabies is found throughout the world, particularly in Asia, Africa, and parts of Central and South America. Dogs are the cause of most rabies infections in people. However, all animals can catch rabies and pass it on, including cats, monkeys and bats.
Rabies is prevented by a course of vaccines given promptly after an exposure to animal saliva (post-exposure treatment). Travellers at higher risk of rabies exposure may also choose to have vaccines before a potential exposure, but post-exposure treatment is still necessary.
More information about rabies can be found on Rabies: epidemiology, transmission and prevention and on the TravelHealthPro website
2. Actions before travel
Check whether you are visiting a place where rabies is present in animals. You can look up the country you’re visiting on the TravelHealthPro country information pages or speak to a GP or travel clinic for more information.
Consider having a course of pre-exposure rabies vaccines, especially if you are travelling to countries where rabies is known or thought to occur and you are:
- undertaking activities that might put you at greater risk of contact with animals (such as cycling or running)
- visiting remote areas, where medical care and rabies post-exposure treatment may not be available
- working with animals
Further information about pre-exposure rabies immunisation can be found in the Green Book.
3. Actions while abroad
Avoid contact with any wild animals (including bats), domestic animals or pets.
Do not touch or feed animals, even within temples, zoos or sanctuaries.
Be careful not to attract stray animals by dropping litter or offering them food.
Rabid animals may behave strangely or seem unusually tame, but some may not have any signs that they are infected.
Children are at greatest risk of rabies as they are more likely to touch animals and may not tell their parents or guardians. If you’re travelling with a child, make sure they’re aware of the dangers and that they should tell you if they’ve been bitten, scratched or licked. Supervise babies and young children closely around animals and check them for any wounds if they come into contact with an animal.
Remember to take a written record of your rabies vaccination with you when you travel abroad.
4. Those who need medical advice
If you have been bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin or mucous membranes by an animal in an area with a risk of rabies you should immediately wash and thoroughly flush the area with soap and lots of water. Then seek medical attention locally – do not wait until you return to the UK.
Even if you have had rabies vaccine before travelling, it is still important to seek medical advice promptly.
If advised, start the rabies post-exposure treatment abroad and do not wait until you get back to the UK. But always contact your GP on return to the UK, even if you received post-exposure treatment abroad or the exposure happened several weeks ago. You may need to continue a course of rabies vaccines.
If you have a record of any treatment given, remember to bring this with you. Your GP will also be able to arrange for post-exposure treatment if this hasn’t been started while you were abroad, but is considered necessary by PHE.
5. Specialist advice for health professionals
Health professionals can access specialist advice, support on completing the rabies risk assessment and provision of free rabies vaccine for post-exposure treatment by contacting the relevant service:
5.1 England
PHE’s Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service on 0330 128 1020; or find the local health protection team.
5.2 Northern Ireland
Public Health Agency duty room on 030 0555 0119. Rabies vaccine is available from the Royal Victoria Hospital Pharmacy Department, Belfast (028 9024 0503).
5.3 Scotland
The local on-call infectious diseases consultant in:
- Aberdeen - Royal Infirmary (0345 456 6000)
- Ayrshire - Crosshouse Hospital (01563 521 133)
- Dumfries and Galloway - Royal Infirmary (01387 246 246)
- Dundee - Ninewells Hospital (01382 680 111)
- Edinburgh - Western General Hospital (0131 537 1000)
- Fife - Victoria Hospital (01592 643 355)
- Glasgow - Queen Elizabeth Hospital (0141 201 1100)
- Inverness - Raigmore Hospital (01463 704 000)
- Lanarkshire - Monklands Hospital (01236 748 748)
5.4 Wales
Duty Virologist, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff (029 2074 2094 or 029 2074 7747); or Public Health Wales Health Protection Team on 0300 003 0032 (contact via the local ambulance control out of hours).
6. Rabies information for travellers leaflet
More information for travellers can be found on the rabies information for travellers leaflet, which also contains useful information for your health care professional. Please print off a copy and take it with you to your doctor.