The Rabies Travel Advice Guide – What Travelers Need to Know
Even though rabies cases are not common in the United States, other areas of the world have a lot more human cases of rabies. Plan for your journey abroad and see if you need to prevent rabies with a pre-exposure rabies vaccine. Make sure you have health insurance abroad for any health emergency.
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Are you excited to travel the world? Worried about diseases abroad? Traveling with pets? Keep reading to learn more about rabies and where you’re most at risk for catching this deadly virus.
In this article, we will explain how you get rabies, how to prevent infection, and what to do if you catch rabies abroad. We’ll also ensure you have sources for health insurance abroad whether you’re a tourist, expat, or digital nomad!
When finished with this article, check out the 14 most common diseases while traveling abroad! Many expats and digital nomads find the guide super helpful!
What Causes Rabies?
Rabies is a deadly viral illness spread by bites from rabid animals. The disease is found on every continent except Antarctica but is more prevalent in some areas than others. Contact a healthcare provider right away if an animal bites or scratches you.
Is Rabies Contagious?
Rabies does not usually spread from person-to-person. The virus is typically spread through bites from rabid animals. It’s less common but possible for the virus to enter a wound like a scratch or abrasion. Rabies is not spread through casual contact.
In theory, rabies can spread from one person to the next through saliva or bodily fluids from the mouth, nose, or eyes, entering broken skin (like a bite). However, there are no documented cases of this happening. Blood, feces, and urine is not known to carry the virus.
Common Symptoms of Rabies
The early symptoms of rabies are flu-like symptoms, including body aches, fever, and headache. These symptoms usually appear 2-3 months after exposure. Once symptoms appear, the infection is usually fatal. Treatment must begin as soon as possible after a suspected exposure.
After the initial symptoms, the disease progresses until it affects the nervous system. Infected people may be confused, anxious, or agitated once this begins. During the acute stage, the infected person may exhibit abnormal behavior, delirium, hallucinations, insomnia, and fear of water.
Where Rabies Is Found
Rabies is most prevalent in Southeast Asia, Asia, and Africa. In these areas, rabid dogs are a major problem. In Central and South America, animal vaccination programs are reducing cases, but they are still a concern. The rabid dogs bite and infect tens of thousands of people in these areas.
In the United States, vaccination programs for domestic animals have reduced the number of rabies cases. 90% of reported animal rabies cases in the United States are in wildlife. A significant portion of human rabies cases in the United States is due to international travel.
In developing nations, vaccination programs have been less successful for domestic animals. In these countries, rabies is common in dogs. The CDC has identified these countries as high-risk countries.
Rabies Travel Restrictions
Currently, there are no travel restrictions for humans traveling abroad. There are restrictions on imported pets or animals coming to the United States from high-risk countries.
Pets coming from high-risk countries must meet the CDC’s criteria for rabies vaccination to enter the United States. Only five locations with animal care specialists are able to offer certificates at this time. These locations include Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington DC (Dulles), and New York.
How to Avoid Rabies While Traveling Abroad
Since rabies is spread by bites from infected animals, travelers can take some precautions to prevent infection. These precautions include taking care around even domestic animals in high risk countries, wild animals everywhere, and considering pre-exposure vaccination.
Rabies vaccination before exposure is not commonly recommended in the United States. However, if you are traveling to a high-risk country where you may not have access to a post-exposure vaccine in the event of exposure, talk to your healthcare provider.
For any illness, make sure you know what preparation steps you should take. You don’t want to be unprepared for other illnesses that are common when traveling.
Activities That Put You the Most At-Risk For Rabies
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that you are most at risk of contracting rabies when you visit a country for more than six months. Other activities that may cause a higher risk include backpacking and cave exploring. Individuals like veterinarians are also at an increased risk for exposure to rabies.
While most travelers participating in organized explorations and safaris do not need rabies vaccination, consider asking about the vaccine if you plan to do any of the high-risk activities listed above.
Avoid Rabid Animals Abroad
When traveling abroad, it’s important to remember that not all countries require domesticated animals to be vaccinated. Even healthy-looking unvaccinated animals can spread rabies! Take some basic precautions to protect yourself and any kids or pets traveling with you.
- Do not approach or touch any animals! This includes dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, and wildlife.
- Supervise children and teach them not to touch animals.
- Be wary even if an animal looks smart, tame, or in need of help or rescue.
- Avoid taking your pet on travels, and when you do, follow all guidelines to protect them and yourself.
What Happens if a Tourist Gets Sick Abroad With Rabies
When you are first bitten or scratched by an animal in an area where rabies is common, act calmly but quickly. Getting medical before you feel sick is the best way to prevent the infection from becoming fatal.
When You are Bitten or Scratched By an Animal Abroad
Caution and medical attention after an animal bite or scratch is always a good idea. Rabies occurs in almost every country in the world. However, certain countries carry higher risks, and getting early care is even more expedient.
Follow the current guidance from the World Health Organization on rabies infection prevention after animal-inflicted wounds. These recommendations include
- Clean any wounds with soap and clean water.
- Seek medical care immediately even if you think the animal was healthy.
- Also seek medical care even if you feel fine and the bite doesn’t look serious.
- You should seek care even if you have a pre-exposure vaccine.
- If the local physician and hospital cannot help you, be prepared to travel to your home country or another area for medical care.
Be prepared for rabies and other illnesses abroad with a robust travel insurance plan. Many plans have accommodations for emergency medical evacuation.
Common Treatments for Rabies
After a potential rabies exposure, humans are treated with a series of post-exposure vaccinations and a biological drug to reduce the chance of infection. People who have already received a pre-exposure vaccine will only need vaccination.
The biological drug for post-exposure prophylaxis is not available in all parts of the world. If you are bitten while abroad, you will need to go to an area that can provide appropriate medical care, including the human rabies immune globulin.
Rabies Vaccine
There is an effective rabies vaccine available for pets and humans. In the United States, we do not vaccinate humans because we have effectively controlled rabies infections through domestic animal vaccination programs.
Instead, we only use pre-exposure vaccinations for people in high-risk areas or occupations. Post-exposure vaccinations are available for any bites, scratches, or interactions where rabies is a concern.
The rabies vaccine is a series of four shots. The first is given the same day as the suspected exposure, then on days 3, 7, and 14 following the bite or scratch.
People receiving the rabies vaccine are not contagious. Being around someone getting the vaccine series does not count as being exposed to rabies.
In addition to seeing if you qualify for the rabies vaccine before travel, make sure you are up-to-date on all vaccines, such as Hepatitis A and Japanese Encephalitis since your risk for these diseases is higher in developing countries.
Conclusion
Although symptomatic rabies in humans is usually fatal, you can prevent infection by taking precautions before and during travel. Speak with your healthcare provider if you believe you are a good candidate for the pre-exposure rabies vaccine, and avoid contact with animals during travel.
To make sure you have the most financial protection in health emergencies, make sure you have an international health insurance plan that covers you where you’re going!
For more travel disease articles, check out Zika Virus Travel Advice or Typhoid Fever Travel Advice!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after vaccination can my pet travel?
Your pet must be vaccinated at least 21 days before departure. Check with your originating country and destination country for all the applicable guidelines for your pet.
Are three days after a bite too long to get the vaccine?
Everyone bitten by an unvaccinated animal or animal with an unknown vaccination status should receive the post-exposure rabies vaccine and human rabies immune globulin as soon as possible. Even if it has been several days, seek medical care.
Will I get sick after the rabies shot?
You may experience side effects from the rabies vaccine, but the vaccine will not cause rabies infection. Common side effects of the rabies vaccine include soreness or swelling at the injection site. You may also have headaches, nausea, muscle pains, and abdominal pain.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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What are the legal requirements for bringing a service animal into countries with strict rabies regulations? Are there specific documents or certifications needed?
When bringing a service animal into countries with strict rabies regulations, you’ll typically need to provide proof of up-to-date rabies vaccinations, a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian, and in some cases, a rabies titer test showing sufficient antibodies. Some countries may also require an import permit or additional documentation depending on their classification of high- or low-risk rabies regions. It’s crucial to review the destination country’s specific guidelines well in advance, as processing these documents can take time.
For more guidance on traveling with service animals and international health insurance, feel free to reach out through our Contact Us page.
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