Havent had rabies immunisation and going to east and south africa for 7 weeks?

Question

there isnt enough time for me to get immunised to rabies before i go to africa (i go on february 2nd). im going to kenya, uganda, tanzania, zanzibar, malawi, botswana, zambia, and south africa for a total of 7 weeks. im going to a lot of national parks and camping, and im going to some major cities too. im going with a travel organisation (STA Travel) who should know what theyre doing and roughly 15 other people. im an 18 year old healthy guy. ill be careful and avoid dogs. im not sure ill always be within 24 hours of medical treatment, which is what you need for treatment for rabies. is it safe for me to go considering that i wont be immunised to rabies?

Answer 1

But the local feral dog might not avoid you!

Rabies vaccine is given as folows:
Day 0
Day 7
Day 21 or 28 depending which of 2 brands you are prescribed.

I would have the first 2 in the hopes that I might have some protection. You have to pay the full price of the vaccine even if you are a student ( in UK) - last I heard was £99 for 3 vaccines but it seems to vary from pharmacy to pharmacy and this is if you can get a GP appt in time. A Travel Clinic might be similar but ? charge for the service.

If you don't get vaccine and do get bite, wash immediately under running water, then with soap or detergent, then disinfectant and cover and leap into jeep for trip to nearest clinic/hospital pronto!

We don't get vaccine to visit France but then rabies is probably more endemic among certain African animals.

Sounds like a great trip - enjoy!

Answer 2

Rabies is a very serious disease. It is passed to humans from bites from animals who carry the rabies virus. Treatment with an antiserum and vaccine works well if you get it soon after being bitten. People who should be immunised against rabies include those who work with animals and travellers to remote areas where medical help is not available.Three doses of vaccine are usually given. The first injection, a second injection seven days later, and a third injection 28 days after the first injection. The vaccine is very effective - almost 100%. The vaccine stimulates your body to make antibodies against the rabies virus. These antibodies protect you from illness should you become infected with this virus.

Booster doses may be required every 2-3 years for people who continue to be at risk and where medical treatment is not available

Answer 3

see you later as you do not bite each person, you need to be threat-free. very few human beings in SA are immunised adverse to rabies. there is also very few places in South Africa the position you isn't interior of 24 hrs clinical information. i do not learn about the different international locations, yet for a visit to South Africa it isn't mandatory. (Frankly i did not even recognize human beings ought to get immunised.)

Answer 4

Don't worry, yo'ure fine.

I work in rural Africa, in fact in one of the countries you'll be visiting :) I haven't been immunized either.

What I strongly recommend though, is make sure your insurance covers emergency MedEvac. If you do get bitten, you may have a hell of a time trying to get post-exposure treatment, simply because one of the countries you're going to (in which I work) don't always have it; even in private hospitals.

But you're better off worrying about not getting some other infectious diseases than rabies. I hope you're taking malaria prophylaxis, and that you plan on sleeping under a mosquito net every night. Malaria is rampant.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

yo man. don't worry so much. if you are, like you said, stay away from dogs. I've lived in Africa my whole life and i aint been immunised for rabies. And i'm pretty sure you'll always be within 24 hours of a hospital. if not holla at one of Georgies's army bases. :) And STA is very good.

Answer 6

Your safest bet would be, ofcourse, immunisation. Rabbies is contracted from variosus animals not just dogs. Your health status is not a factor! If you get bit by a rabbid animal you eill contract rabbies immediately. It automatically goes into the blood stream and can only be treated by medical attention. This is life threatening especially since you will be so far from medical attention.

Answer 7

You can't go through life only doing what you imagine to be safe. Personally, I think you should probably have had the shot however I would not even consider not going because I hadn't had the shot. Just be careful and plan better next time.

Answer 8

whoa! i say avoid animals who carry this dreaded decease, wear high boots, have a good time, don't forget your camera