Experiences with
Rabies

Check if you're at risk of rabies

Rabies is found throughout the world, but it's very rare in the UK.

Although the risk of getting it while travelling is small, rabies is more common in parts of:

Asia
Africa
Central and South America

Rabies is spread by mammals, such as dogs, bats, raccoons and foxes. In the UK, it's only found in some bats.

You can get rabies if:

you're bitten or scratched by an infected animal
an infected animal licks your eyes, nose or mouth, or you have a wound that's licked by an infected animal

you've been bitten or scratched by an animal while you're abroad
an animal has licked your eyes, nose or mouth, or licked a wound you have, while you're abroad
you've been bitten or scratched by a bat in the UK

If you're abroad, get medical help as soon as possible. Do not wait until you get back to the UK.

If you're in the UK, ask for an urgent GP appointment, call NHS 111 or get help from 111 online .

Rabies can be prevented if you get treatment quickly. It's important to get help even if you've been vaccinated.

How to reduce your risk of rabies

If you're travelling abroad, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of getting rabies.

get advice from a travel health clinic at least 8 weeks before you travel – they may recommend getting vaccinated against rabies
find out where you'll be able to get urgent medical help while abroad
wash any animal bites or scratches with soap and water and get medical help immediately

do not touch or go near wild or stray animals, even if they do not seem unwell (animals with rabies may not have any symptoms)
do not feed any animals, including in zoos or animal sanctuaries

The rabies vaccine is recommended if you're travelling to a part of the world where rabies is more common, especially if:

you're going somewhere where it may be hard to get medical help quickly
you might come into contact with infected animals (for example, you'll be doing lots of outdoor activities like cycling or running)
you're staying for over a month

Some people at risk of rabies through their work should also get vaccinated.

You have to pay for the rabies vaccine for travel. You can get it from travel health clinics and pharmacies with travel health services.

Treatment for possible rabies

If you've been bitten, scratched or licked by an animal that may have rabies, a doctor will check if you need treatment.

Treatment usually involves:

2 or more doses of the rabies vaccine
a medicine called rabies immunoglobulin, a liquid given into the wound or by injection (this is only needed if you've not had the rabies vaccine before or have a weakened immune system)

If treated quickly, treatment is usually very effective at preventing rabies. Rabies cannot be treated if symptoms appear.

If you had treatment while abroad, contact your GP when you get back to the UK. They can check if you need any more treatment.

Symptoms of rabies

Symptoms of rabies usually take 3 to 12 weeks to appear, but they can appear after a few days or not for several months or years.

Symptoms include:

numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched
seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
feeling very anxious or energetic
difficulty swallowing or breathing
being unable to move (paralysis)

Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal.

CausesPreventionMedical treatmentsSymptoms

You can get rabies if you're bitten, scratched or licked by an infected animal, usually a dog. It's found throughout the world, but is rare in the UK.

If you're at risk of getting rabies, you can help reduce your risk by avoiding close contact with animals and having the rabies vaccine.

If you're bitten, scratched or licked by an animal that may have rabies, early treatment with doses of the rabies vaccine can stop you getting rabies.

Symptoms of rabies usually take 3 to 12 weeks to appear. They can include hallucinations, difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing.

What the rabies vaccine is for

The rabies vaccine helps reduce your risk of getting rabies.

Rabies is:

a rare but very serious infection that affects the brain and nerves
almost always fatal once symptoms appear
usually caught from the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most often a dog
found throughout the world, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America (in the UK, it's only found in a small number of wild bats)

The rabies vaccine is used to help prevent rabies and to help stop you getting symptoms if there's a chance you've been exposed to rabies.

Who should have the rabies vaccine

The rabies vaccine is not routinely given as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.

It's only recommended for people at risk of getting rabies, including some people travelling abroad and people at risk through their work.

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Who cannot have the rabies vaccine

Most people who need it can have the rabies vaccine, including babies and children, and if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a weakened immune system.

You only cannot have the vaccine if you've had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose or to an ingredient in the vaccine.

The rabies vaccine used in the UK contains egg protein. Tell the person vaccinating you if you have a severe egg allergy.

Getting vaccinated if you're unwell

If you have a high temperature or feel too unwell to do your normal activities, wait until you're feeling better before having the rabies vaccine.

Rabies vaccine ingredients

There is 1 type of rabies vaccine used in the UK. You can check the ingredients in the patient leaflet:

Rabipur rabies vaccine patient leaflet (Electronic Medicines Compendium website)

Where to get the rabies vaccine

You usually have to pay for the rabies vaccine for travel.

You can get it from:

private travel vaccination clinics
pharmacies with travel health services
some GP surgeries (you still have to pay if the vaccine is for travel)

It's best to get advice at least 8 weeks before going abroad, as some vaccines (including the rabies vaccine) need to be given several weeks before you travel.

If you need the rabies vaccine because you're at risk through your work, speak to your employer about getting vaccinated.

If you do voluntary work that involves regularly handling wild bats, you may be able to get the rabies vaccine for free on the NHS. Check with your GP surgery.

How the rabies vaccine is given

The rabies vaccine is given as an injection. You usually have 3 doses given over 28 days.

If there's not enough time to have 3 doses in 28 days, they can be given over 21 days or sometimes over 7 days.

Booster doses

Most travellers do not need a booster dose of the rabies vaccine.

But a one-off booster dose may be recommended if you're travelling to a place where rabies is a risk and it's been more than 1 year since you were first vaccinated.

If you're at risk of rabies through your work, you may need a booster after 1 year, followed by regular boosters every few years.

Having the rabies vaccine at the same time as other vaccines

You can have the rabies vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.

How well the rabies vaccine works and how long it lasts

Around 95% of people who have 3 doses of the rabies vaccine will have some protection from rabies.

How long the protection lasts can vary, but it usually lasts at least 1 or 2 years.

People at continued risk of rabies may need 1 or more booster doses of the rabies vaccine to make sure they stay protected.

The rabies vaccine does not fully protect everyone from rabies.

You should get medical help as soon as possible if you think you may have been exposed to rabies, even if you've been vaccinated.

Side effects of the rabies vaccine

Most of the side effects of the rabies vaccine are mild and do not last long.

They can include:

swelling or pain where the injection was given
a headache
a high temperature
being sick
a raised, itchy rash (hives)

More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are very rare.

The rabies vaccine used in the UK contains a killed (destroyed) version of the rabies virus, so there's no risk of getting rabies from the vaccine.

Who it's forContraindicationsHow to get itHow it's used (previously Dosage and administration)Side effects

The rabies vaccine is recommended for people travelling to places where rabies is common and for people at risk of getting rabies through their job.

Most people can have the rabies vaccine. You only need to avoid it if you've had a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine or an ingredient in it.

If you need the rabies vaccine for travel, you can get it from a travel clinic or some pharmacies. You'll usually have to pay for it.

You usually have 3 doses of the rabies vaccine over 28 days, but they can be given over a shorter period if needed. Most people do not need a booster.

Common side effects of the rabies vaccine include swelling or pain where the injection was given. Serious side effects are very rare.