How is the vaccine administered to Travellers?

The vaccine is administered through a course of three injections. The second dose is given seven days after the first dose, and the third dose is given 14 to 21 days after the second.

Booster

For travellers at intermittent risk of exposure, booster doses may be given in line with official recommendations.

AREAS HIGHLY AFFECTED

Rabies is mostly spread through dogs’ bite of which 99% are domesticated. Rabies is an infectious viral disease that is almost always fatal following the onset of clinical symptoms. It affects both domestic and wild animals anywhere in the world.

SIDE EFFECTS

• Injection site reactions
• Swelling
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Muscle pain
• Nausea
• Stomach pain

WHO MUST NOT TAKE THIS VACCINATION

• If the person getting the vaccine has any severe, life-threatening allergies.

FACTS – Did You Know that?

• Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease.
• Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans.
• Infection causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, mainly in Asia and Africa.
• 40% of people bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age.
• Immediate, thorough wound washing with soap and water after contact with a suspect rabid animal is crucial and can save lives.

What is Rabies?

Description

Rabies is an acute and fatal viral infection. It is found across a huge number of countries around the world. Rabies is an infection that causes inflammation around the spinal cord and the brain.

Transmission

Rabies is a deadly virus that is carried in infected animals’ saliva. Mammals (usually dogs, cats, primates and bats) are most likely to have the virus. The virus is spread through bite, scratch or the licking of broken skin. If you have been bitten and have had or not had the vaccination it is strongly advised that you seek urgent medical help.

Symptoms

Rabies symptoms are in common with flu symptoms for the first few stages. These include fever, headaches and muscle aches. There may also be pain in the affected area, and within days of these mild symptoms, anxiety, confusion, and agitation are also observed. With progression of the disease, symptoms such as delirium, abnormal behaviour, hallucinations and insomnia begin to show. Unfortunately, with the complete development of Rabies symptoms, fatality is certain.

Treatment

They are no treatments for rabies, but it can be prevented with a vaccine.

Prevention

Prevent the risk of death by slowing the progression of the virus to the brain and/or spinal cord
Eliminates need for Rabies immunoglobulin -as the patient will have formed their own antibodies that will fight the rabies virus
Reduce the number doses of vaccine if bitten