Post-Exposure Rabies Vaccine

Animal bites, scratches or even licks over an open wound in rabies-infected countries are very serious.

Whether it is a bite or a scratch, if the skin is broken you need urgent treatment.

A lick over broken skin is also significant, as this is enough to allow the rabies virus to enter.

If the skin is not broken, you do not need to be vaccinated. Sometimes it is hard to be sure if there is a break in the skin. It only takes a minuscule break in the skin for the virus to enter. In that case, it is safer to be vaccinated.

Some years ago, rabies cases were reported from persons possibly inhaling the virus during visits to bat caves. However, research suggests that these cases were likely to be in persons who were bitten without realising it.

Even if you have been bitten a few days, weeks or months ago, it is never too late to start. The rabies virus can incubate for several years before it causes symptoms.

If you wait until you get symptoms, it will be too late – there is no treatment for established rabies … rabies is fatal.

This lady had a small scratch from a puppy in Morocco and just did not realise the significance.  She tragically died.  Yes, an injury may seem very trivial, but it is just as big a medical emergency as if you have been stabbed in the gut.

If you have been exposed to an animal bite, lick or scratch in a rabies-infected country, you need to:

1. Wash the wound gently with soap and running water for 15 minutes – do not scrub.

2. Call the clinic on 07 3221 9066 ASAP, and tell the reception staff you have been bitten by an animal overseas.

We will find you an appointment the same day. (If you are still overseas, you need to call your travel insurance hotline to find the nearest reliable medical provider.)

For persons in Brisbane, post bite rabies vaccine is supplied FREE by QLD health, but there is a bit of paperwork required.

Dr Deb and her team have extensive experience caring for travellers bitten overseas.

Modern vaccines are extremely safe and are given in the arm ( not the stomach as in times past). Since the vaccine takes 2 weeks to be effective, travellers who have not been preimmunised with rabies vaccine before their trip will need a special product called RIG injected in the wound – to slow the virus while the vaccine takes effect.

No one in their right mind would say after a snake bite in the Australian bush – “Oh I will just see what happens”. It is kind of the the same thing.

Call us now 07 3221 9066

Thailand and Indonesia are the most common countries our travellers get bitten. A list of rabies-free countries can be found on the CDC website.

For more information about rabies, you may like to review Dr Deb’s rabies blog post.