Rabies is one of those diseases we hope never to come across—but if you’re travelling abroad, especially to parts of Asia or Africa, it’s important to know how to protect yourself.

Let’s break it down: what is rabies, where is it a risk, and how can you prevent it?

🧠 What Is Rabies?

Rabies is a serious and deadly viral infection that affects the brain and spinal cord (known medically as encephalomyelitis). It’s usually passed on through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, such as a dog, bat or monkey.

🐶 Did you know? Dog bites are responsible for the majority of the 59,000 global rabies deaths each year.

Although rare in the UK, rabies is still found in many other parts of the world. Once symptoms appear, the condition is almost always fatal, which is why prevention is absolutely essential.

🌍 Where Is Rabies Found?

Rabies exists on every continent except Antarctica. Human rabies is most commonly reported in:

Africa
Asia
Central and South America

The UK is considered rabies-free, though there have been isolated cases of rabies-related lyssavirus from bats.

✈️ If you’re travelling to a country where rabies is still present, you should seriously consider vaccination—especially if you’ll be spending time outdoors, in rural areas, or working with animals.

🤒 Rabies Symptoms

The scary thing about rabies is that you might not know you’re infected right away. The virus can incubate silently for 3 to 12 weeks, but in rare cases, symptoms might appear as early as 4 days—or even several years later.

Early symptoms:

Fever
Tingling or discomfort at the bite site
Headache
Fatigue or confusion

Later symptoms (two types):

Furious Rabies (80%)	Paralytic Rabies (20%)
Hydrophobia (fear of water)	Muscle weakness starting in the limbs
Agitation and hallucinations	Paralysis spreading to the lungs
Seizures and aggressive behaviour	Difficulty swallowing and breathing
Coma and death within days	Death from respiratory failure in 1–3 weeks

🛡️ Rabies Prevention: What You Can Do

✅ 1. Avoid Animal Bites

Don’t pet stray dogs, monkeys, or wild animals—no matter how friendly they seem!
Avoid bats in caves or buildings.

💉 2. Consider Pre-Exposure Vaccination

You should be vaccinated before travel if you:

Are visiting high-risk countries for an extended period
Plan to go hiking, cycling, or camping in rural areas
Work with animals (e.g. vets, volunteers, lab staff)

🆘 3. Know What to Do If Bitten or Scratched

If you’re bitten or scratched by an animal abroad:

Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water.
Seek medical attention immediately.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)—a course of rabies vaccine (and possibly rabies immunoglobulin)—should be given as soon as possible.

Even if you've had the rabies vaccine, you’ll still need medical treatment after a potential exposure.

💉 Rabies Vaccines Available in the UK

The UK offers one licensed rabies vaccine: Rabipur®.

Vaccine	Schedule	Who Can Have It
Rabipur®	3 doses: Day 0, 7, 21 (or 28)	Anyone from 0+ months
Accelerated option (for adults 18–65)	3 doses: Day 0, 3, 7 + booster at 1 year	If travel is imminent

Booster doses are advised for those travelling again to high-risk areas after 1–3 years, depending on your situation.

👩‍⚕️ Should I Get the Rabies Vaccine?

Consider booking a pre-travel consultation with us at Ready Health Clinic in Standish if you’re heading to:

Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, or Indonesia
Sub-Saharan Africa
South or Central America
Anywhere rural with poor access to emergency care

Our team can provide tailored advice, same-day rabies vaccines, and help plan for all your travel health needs.

✅ Summary: Key Rabies Facts

Topic	Details
Cause	Rabies lyssavirus
Spread	Bites or scratches from infected animals
Symptoms	Fever, tingling, hallucinations, paralysis
Fatality	Almost always fatal after symptoms start
Prevention	Vaccination, avoid animal contact, emergency wound care