ProMED has published a summary of recent rabies cases and exposures in the Americas, with three separate incidents in the US (Alabama, Delaware and South Carolina) involving human contact with rabid animals (dog, raccoon and kitten respectively). In Brazil, a young boy from the northern state of Maranhão succumbed to rabies infection last month following a bite from an infected fox. His is the first confirmed rabies case in the state for eight years. Elsewhere, South Africa’s NICD has confirmed 17 human rabies cases this year and an alert has been sounded in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which includes the city of Durban (KwaZulu-Natal province), after an increase in the number of rabid animals was observed recently.
Advice for travellers
Rabies is present in most countries and all travellers should be aware of the importance of avoiding contact with wild and domestic animals, including bats. If bitten or scratched, urgent post-exposure treatment is required. Vaccination is generally recommended for longer stays, especially travellers planning to live in, or travel extensively through, rural areas and also for children; however the final recommendation is itinerary-specific. Read more on rabies.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.