Rabies

Rabies is a viral infection caused by contact with the saliva of an infected animal. There is no cure for the virus and infection is typically fatal.

What Are the Symptoms?

Early symptoms of the rabies virus include fever, headache and general discomfort. As infection progresses, more severe symptoms may usually appear including insomnia, confusion, anxiety, hallucinations and seizures. In most cases, death occurs days after infection.

Where Is It Found?

Rabies infections occur worldwide and 55,000 people die of the virus every year.

How Can You Get It?

Rabies is spread when the saliva of an infected animal enters the body through a bite or other injury where the skin is broken. The virus then travels quickly from the wound to the brain, where it causes swelling, inflammation and, in most cases, death.

How Can You Prevent It?

Travelers should avoid contact with any animals that can potentially pass on the rabies virus, though the virus isn’t usually considered a common threat to travelers. The animals most commonly known for rabies infection include dogs, cats, monkeys, bats, skunks, raccoons, rabbits, foxes, jackals and mongooses.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Travelers to high-risk areas, include jungle habitats and areas where here is low-quality medical care, and those working with animals, such as veterinarians and zoologists, should be immunized.

What To Expect Following Immunization

The most common adverse reactions to the rabies vaccine are typically mild and include soreness and redness at the site of injection.

Rabies Factoid

Dogs are the source of 99% of all rabies related deaths in humans.