Schools in Ayrshire have now closed for the long summer break, with many people heading off abroad for their summer holidays.
Unfortunately there are several popular holiday destinations that have some local travel health risks; including rabies. Countries where rabies is considered ‘high risk’ include Turkey, Poland, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Mexico, South Africa and India. A full list is found here: Rabies risks in terrestrial animals by country – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Members of the NHS Ayrshire & Arran Travel Health Team want to remind anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to rabies abroad about how to get in touch to enable the appropriate medical treatments to be given.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Chief Nurse (Immunisation) Susan Wilson explains:
“There are a few ways that you can be exposed to rabies if you are travelling to a country where the disease is prevalent among the local animal population. If an animal licks your eyes, mouth or nose, or licks an open wound or broken skin, or scratches or bites you while you are in a destination that is considered high risk then you may have been exposed to rabies, which is a serious viral infection.
“If you or a member of your family has been exposed to rabies then it is important to get appropriate medical assistance. You should request medical care immediately and not wait to return to the UK before seeking advice.
“When you are back at home in Ayrshire and Arran, our Travel Health Team is here to help. You can call us to arrange post exposure vaccinations, so please make sure you get in touch quickly after your return from travel, if you believe you have been exposed to rabies on your holidays.”
Visit our website for local Travel Health information https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/travel-vaccines/ or the national Fit for Travel site https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home for country-by-country information about travel health risks.
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