Summer Travellers Urged to Take Precautions in Rabies Prone Areas
30th June, 2014, Geneva, Switzerland – People planning on visiting areas with a high risk of rabies are urged to take proper precautions including informing themselves about available rabies prevention measures before travelling.
Rabies is the world’s most fatal disease and kills approximately 55,000 people each year worldwide. Most of the deaths occur in India, Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Latin America. Some Europeans have died in recent years following travel to infected areas when they failed to realize that they were exposed to the disease.
Even though the disease is preventable through vaccination, the cost and complexity of sterilizing stray animal populations means health authorities in affected areas often struggle to keep the disease under control. Poor health infrastructure in some countries also means that life-saving post-exposure prophylaxis can be in short supply.
“With common sense, a little research and necessary vaccinations rabies need not deter adventurous travellers,” says Professor Deborah Briggs, Chief Executive Officer of GARC. “Following simple rules on prevention means it is possible to fully enjoy the culture and surroundings of your destination without fearing infection.”
For further advice on what to do if you have been bitten or scratched by an animal, please visit GARC’s website
Notes to editors:
· To view the World Health Organization’s interactive world rabies risk map, click here
· For more information on rabies control projects GARC is involved in around the world, click here.
To schedule an interview with a Global Alliance for Rabies Control expert, please contact:
Mobile: 00 33 7 86 86 70 79