Rabies and Travel: Do You Need the Vaccine, and What to Do If You're Bitten Abroad
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Quick answer
Rabies is a virus spread by bites, scratches or licks from infected animals, most often dogs, across much of Asia, Africa and Latin America. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is also entirely preventable. Washing the wound straight away and getting prompt post-exposure treatment stops the virus taking hold. A pre-exposure course (three doses) is worth considering for longer trips, remote destinations and higher-risk activities. Medway Pharmacy can review your itinerary and vaccinate you before you fly.
Why rabies is worth taking seriously
Rabies is a viral infection of the nervous system. It is passed to people through a bite, a scratch, or a lick over broken skin or the eyes, nose and mouth, usually from an infected mammal. Once symptoms begin, rabies is almost always fatal: the World Health Organization estimates it still causes tens of thousands of deaths worldwide every year, the great majority following dog bites.
That sounds frightening, and it is why the disease gets so much attention. But the practical message for travellers is reassuring: rabies is preventable. If you avoid contact with animals, know what to do the moment you are exposed, and have any recommended vaccines in advance, your risk becomes very low.
Where in the world is rabies a risk?
Rabies is present in more than 150 countries. The highest numbers of human cases occur in Asia and Africa, with India, South East Asia and parts of the Americas being common destinations where UK travellers are exposed. Dogs are the main source, but cats, monkeys and bats can also carry the virus. Bites and scratches from monkeys are a particular hazard at temples and tourist sites where the animals are used to being fed.
Because the level of risk and the availability of treatment vary hugely from one country to another, it is worth checking the country-specific advice on TravelHealthPro before you travel, and discussing your plans with a travel health professional.
Should you have the pre-exposure vaccine?
Not every traveller needs the rabies vaccine before they go. It is generally recommended for people whose trip raises their risk, including those who are:
- travelling to areas where rabies is common and medical care may be hard to reach quickly
- staying for a month or longer, where the chance of an animal encounter adds up over time
- planning activities such as cycling, running or hiking, which bring you into contact with roaming dogs
- working with animals, or travelling with young children, who are more likely to approach animals and less likely to report a lick or a small scratch
The pre-exposure course, and why it is worth the planning
The standard pre-exposure course is three doses, usually given on day 0, day 7 and then day 21 to 28. When time is short, an accelerated schedule of doses on day 0, 3 and 7 can be used, with a booster at one year for those who remain at risk. Either way, it pays to book early so the course can be finished before you fly.
The vaccine does not make you immune to rabies on its own. What it does is buy you crucial time and simplify treatment. If you are exposed after being vaccinated, you still need medical care, but you will only need two further doses of vaccine, and you will not need rabies immunoglobulin, a blood product that is expensive and unavailable in much of the world.
Rabies vaccine supply in the UK has been limited at times during 2026. If you think you may need the pre-exposure course, contact us as early as you can rather than in the final week before travel: it gives us the best chance of sourcing the vaccine and completing your doses. Our pharmacists will confirm current availability when you enquire.
What to do the moment an animal bites, scratches or licks you
This is the part every traveller should know by heart, because acting quickly saves lives. If you are bitten, scratched, or licked over broken skin by any mammal in a rabies-risk area:
- Wash the wound immediately under running water with soap for several minutes. This simple step physically removes virus and is one of the most effective things you can do.
- Apply an antiseptic such as 70% alcohol or an iodine solution if you have it.
- Seek medical help locally, straight away. Do not wait until you get home. You may need to travel to a larger city, or occasionally a neighbouring country, to find the right treatment. Start that process at once.
- Keep a record of what happened, where, and which vaccines or immunoglobulin you were given.
When you are back in the UK, contact your GP even if you were treated abroad and even if the exposure was weeks ago. You may still need to complete a course of vaccine. UKHSA's guidance for travellers is a good source if you want to read more.
Avoiding contact in the first place
The best protection of all is not to be bitten. Do not approach, feed or stroke stray dogs, cats or monkeys, however friendly they seem. Teach children to admire animals from a distance and to tell an adult immediately about any bite, scratch or lick, even a tiny one. Be especially careful around temples, markets and beaches where animals gather.
Book rabies advice in Medway
Book a travel health appointment at 465 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, ME7 5LJ. We can assess whether the rabies pre-exposure vaccine is right for your trip, plan the timing of your doses, and check your other travel vaccines in the same visit. Open 7 days a week until 10pm, with same-day appointments. Call 01634 575805.
Frequently asked questions
A completed pre-exposure course gives you lasting benefit. Even years later, if you are exposed you will usually need only two further vaccine doses and no immunoglobulin. You still must seek treatment after any exposure, but your previous vaccination makes that treatment simpler and faster. A pharmacist can advise whether a booster is worthwhile before a high-risk trip.
A small number of UK and European bats carry a rabies-like virus. The risk to the public is very low, but you should never handle a bat with bare hands. If a bat bites or scratches you, wash the wound and seek medical advice as you would abroad. People who work with bats are advised to be vaccinated.
It varies enormously. Rabies vaccine is available in most large cities, but rabies immunoglobulin, needed by unvaccinated people after a significant exposure, is scarce or unavailable in many countries, and treatment can be costly. This is exactly why the pre-exposure course, and good travel insurance, are so valuable for higher-risk trips.
Not necessarily. An accelerated schedule (doses on day 0, 3 and 7) can fit into a week, subject to vaccine availability. Speak to us as soon as you can; even partial protection is better than none, and we can advise on the safest plan for your departure date.
More information
Ready to book your travel vaccinations?
Our pharmacists are available 7 days a week until 10pm, with same-day appointments at Medway Pharmacy in Gillingham, Kent.
Book appointmentMedway Pharmacy · 465 Canterbury Street, Gillingham ME7 5LJ