What Can I Expect From The Illness If I Get It?​

If you are not vaccinated against rabies you may pick up the illness, especially if travelling to countries with a high prevalence of infection.

Rabies symptoms may appear around 3-10 weeks after exposure, but may start much sooner. Once symptoms of rabies appear, rabies could be fatal in some cases.

Early Symptoms Include:

• A headache
• A high temperature (fever)
• Feeling weak or generally unwell
• Pain, numbness or tingling at the side of the bite

Symptoms usually progress a few days later and could include:

• Muscle spasms
• Seeing or hearing things ( hallucinations)
• Confusion or aggressive behaviour
• Inability to move (paralysis)

Why Should I Get Vaccinated?

If you complete a full primary course of rabies vaccines before you travel you will develop antibodies in your blood against the rabies virus. These will help protect you if you have a rabies exposure, but you must still seek medical attention after a rabies exposure and do immediate wound care.

• After a rabies exposure you only need 2 extra doses of rabies vaccines, given over 3 days
• These are booster doses to ensure your antibody levels are high enough to combat the rabies virus
• You will not need Human Rabies Specific Immunoglobulin (HRIG)

You should consider a course of rabies vaccinations before you travel (pre-exposure) if you:

• Will be living in, or travelling to, a country where rabies is considered a risk
• Are planning on undertaking activities such as trekking, cycling or running in a ‘high risk’ country, as these increase your risk of being attacked or bitten by an animal
• Will be working or living in remote or rural areas with no easy access to medical facilities
• Will be working with, or regularly handling animals or bats, as part of your job or activities

Side Effects

The vaccine can cause mild side effects such as a rash, a high temperature, nausea or muscle aches.