Should I get vaccinated?
Rabies is a very serious viral infection so getting a rabies immunisation might be a good idea if your travel plans put you at risk. You can get rabies if you are bitten by an infected animal, or if the animal’s saliva gets into your body, for example through a scratch in your skin.
Animals in Australia do not carry rabies, but many animals in Africa, Asia and the Americas do carry the disease.
Once a person or other animal starts showing symptoms of rabies the disease is almost always fatal, so it’s very important to protect yourself.
Book a rabies vaccination
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How do I get vaccinated?
Come and chat with us, we can help assess your risk and discuss the best prevention strategy for you.
The rabies vaccine is given as either a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – this is a series of jabs before you go overseas – or a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) – if you were bitten and might have been exposed to the virus.
PrEP is a good idea if you will be at a high risk of exposure, for example, if you are going to volunteer in a wildlife or animal program or spend a lot of time in areas with animals. Most people get three doses and it’s best to start at least one month before you go away.
PEP is urgently needed if you come into contact with an animal that might be infected.
We can also help you with other travel vaccinations, travel health advice and first aid kits.
Rabies symptoms & facts
Both wild and domestic animals can spread rabies. The vast majority of human infections come from dogs. However, rabies can be spread by:
- dogs
- cats
- cattle
- monkeys
- coyotes
- wolves
- foxes
- raccoons
- bats
- other animals.
Rabies infections are caused by lyssaviruses and are almost always fatal once symptoms have begun. However, if a person has been bitten by a suspect animal, effective post-bite treatment can be given, which can reduce the probability of the infection taking hold.
The virus usually takes a few months or even years to cause symptoms. In the first few days, these are flu-like symptoms such as cough, headache, fatigue, pain and fever, but quickly progresses to altered behaviour – often aggression, anxiety and a fear of water. Paralytic rabies causes muscle paralysis, difficulty swallowing, reduced coordination, and then coma. Nearly all cases of rabies result in death.
Countries across the world, particularly Africa, Asia and the Americas, have animals with rabies.
Preventing disease
In addition to pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, the best way to prevent rabies is by avoiding contact with infected animals. Do not attempt to touch or get close to animals, and if you are working with animals, make sure you wear appropriate clothing and follow all safety information that you are given.
Come and chat with us about your trip and we can help you understand how to best look after your health while you are away.
