What is it?
Rabies is a disease caused by a virus. The virus is present in the saliva of an infected dog, cat, fox, bat, monkey or other mammal. The disease attacks the brain. It occurs in many countries worldwide, including in Europe. In the Netherlands it is mainly an imported disease, although a less contagious variant does occur in bats. It is a serious disease that results in death.
Symptoms may include:
- fever
- shivering
- vomiting
- headache
- muscle cramps
- convulsions
- paralysis
- difficulty swallowing and breathing
- fear of water (hydrophobia)
How do you catch it?
You can contract the rabies virus after a bite, scratch or lick from an infected dog, cat, fox, bat, monkey or other mammal. Transmission from person to person is uncommon.
If you have been exposed to a risk, you must alert a doctor immediately, even if you have received the full vaccination course of two injections to protect against contracting rabies. You must receive two post-exposure vaccines within a maximum of 48 hours. Without prior vaccination, you must be given antibodies within 24 hours, followed by 5 vaccinations. These antibodies and vaccines are often not readily available, even in developed countries.
The first symptoms usually appear between three weeks and two months after infection.
How do you prevent it?
You can reduce the risk of infection with the virus that causes rabies by avoiding contact with mammals in areas where rabies occurs. Mammals may already be infected before they themselves become ill. You can further reduce the risk of infection through vaccination. Vaccination against rabies consists of two injections. You receive the first injection on day 0 and the second one week later (day 7). Make sure the course is completed before departure. Even if you have received the full vaccination course of the two injections mentioned above to protect against contracting rabies, you must still receive two post-exposure vaccines within a maximum of 48 hours after being exposed to a risk.
In addition to the conditions at your destination, your personal circumstances and travel plans are decisive factors in the preparations you may want or need to make before you travel. You can come to us for expert travel-health advice and the above-mentioned vaccination. We keep the vaccine in stock.
The above description is only a general, brief and simple account and is intended purely for information. No rights can be derived from it. Personal advice is given exclusively during a consultation with a specially trained Certified Travel Medicine Doctor or Travel Medicine Assistant.