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Rabies in Travelers

  • Tropical, Travel and Emerging Infections (L Chen, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Most cases of rabies in travelers are associated with dog bites and occur in adults who are commonly migrants. The incidence of injuries to travelers caused by potentially rabid animals is approximately 0.4 % per month of stay. Dogs account for 51 % of cases, but nonhuman primates are the leading animals responsible for injuries in travelers returning from Southeast Asia. Travel to Southeast Asia, India and North Africa, young age, and traveling for tourism are risk factors for potential exposure. More than 70 % of travelers are not immunized prior to departing and do not receive adequate care when injured. The intradermal vaccination route has been proven economical, safe and immunogenic in travelers. The immunity provided by the three-dose series is long-lasting and should be considered an investment for future travel. Abbreviated schedules may be used for last-minute travelers.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Gautret and Dr. Parola have no conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by the author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005, Marseille, France

    Philippe Gautret & Philippe Parola

  2. Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Pole Maladies Infectieuses, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, 13005, Marseille, France

    Philippe Gautret & Philippe Parola

  3. Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, 27 Bd Jean Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France

    Philippe Gautret

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  1. Philippe Gautret
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  2. Philippe Parola
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Correspondence to Philippe Gautret.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Tropical, Travel and Emerging Infections

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Gautret, P., Parola, P. Rabies in Travelers. Curr Infect Dis Rep 16, 394 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-014-0394-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-014-0394-0

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