 |
||||
 |
||||
 |
|
|
|
|
2009 RABIES TRAVELER'S ALERT
We are providing this information sheet about Rabies because: 1. Rabies is a 100% fatal disease spread by animal bites. There is no treatment once you have contracted the disease--only prevention after a bite. 2. There is a very serious and growing problem with animal bites in travelers. 3. The United States is currently out of Rabies vaccine used for prevention. 4. Most developing countries do not have proper after-bite treatment. So how do you keep out of trouble? 1. Don’t get bitten! Stay away from anything that can bite you--ESPECIALLY DOGS. Any warm-blooded animal can transmit Rabies but dog and BAT bites are the most common problem. What do you do if you are bitten? 1. Scrub the wound(s) vigorously with soap and water. If you have antiseptic like Betadine, iodine, alcohol, apply plenty of it. 2. Get the proper after-bite treatment as fast as you can (within 24 hours). RABIES AFTER-BITE TREATMENT 1. If you have ever previously had a 3-shot, modern Rabies vaccine series, treatment is fairly simple: two Rabies shots done 3 days apart. This vaccine is usually readily available even in developing countries. Be careful to get only cell-culture vaccine as noted below. 2. If you have not been previously immunized, treatment is more complex: five Rabies shots over 28 days PLUS immediate injection of RABIES IMMUNE GLOBULIN. This immune globulin is a blood product and usually very difficult to obtain in developing countries. The proper, world-recognized treatment consists of BOTH these materials. If the immune globulin is not available locally you have two choices: The best one is to get out fast and go to a country that has the globulin. The second is to simply take the vaccine and accept the risks of an incomplete treatment. Remember that bites to the hands and face are especially risky. In all cases, be careful to avoid rabies vaccine made from animal tissue eg. “suckling mouse brain” or “Semple” types. They don’t work well and have extremely serious side-effects. As of this writing these nerve-tissue vaccines may still be in use in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos--Beware! Since the pre-exposure vaccine is currently not available in the U.S. and may not be until late 2009, it is especially important for you to carry medical evacuation insurance. Getting to treatment quickly is often very expensive, difficult to arrange, inconvenient and disruptive. Do the best you can as your life may depend on it.
Copyright © 1992-2009. Healthy Traveler Ltd. All Rights Reserved. |
||
|
|
|
