Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it's effectively preventable through vaccination and correct wound care. Whether you need the pre-exposure vaccine before travel depends on your destination and the nature of your trip.
Situations where it's more worth considering
- Long stays in rabies-endemic areas (such as South Asia, Southeast Asia and parts of Africa).
- Remote areas with limited medical access, where it would be hard to get prompt follow-up treatment and immunoglobulin after a bite.
- Activities with a high chance of animal contact: hiking, cycling, camping, caving, working with animals or contact with strays.
- Travelling with young children, who are more likely to be bitten or scratched and may not tell an adult.
Pre-exposure vaccination is not a one-and-done
Even if you've had the pre-exposure vaccine, after a bite or scratch you must still:
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes;
- Seek medical care promptly for follow-up treatment.
The difference is that people who've had pre-exposure vaccination need fewer follow-up doses and usually don't need rabies immunoglobulin — particularly useful where medical resources are limited.
What to do
The rabies vaccine is a multi-dose course that takes time to complete, so consult the DH Travel Health Centre or your family doctor early (6 to 8 weeks before departure), and let a doctor assess whether you need it based on your itinerary.