WA Health has issued a reminder for people travelling overseas to stay informed about the risk of rabies that could be associated with their destination.
The advice follows multiple reports of Western Australian holiday makers needing treatment to prevent rabies after visiting bat-petting zoos and monkey parks while overseas.
Communicable Disease Control Director Dr Clare Huppatz said more than 200 Western Australian travellers have required treatment after being potentially exposed to rabies virus this year.
“Rabies infection affects your brain and central nervous system and is caused by a type of virus called a lyssavirus,” she said.
“Although it is preventable by taking simple precautions and through prompt appropriate medical care, it is fatal if treatment is not started before the onset of symptoms.
“With school holidays just around the corner, it is a timely to reminder for people to take steps to reduce the chance of getting sick while travelling.
Dr Huppatz said in popular tourist destinations such as Indonesia, dogs were the main transmitter of rabies but scratches and bites from other animals such as bats and monkeys also pose a risk and require prompt assessment and treatment.
Transmission can occur from infected animals to people through bites or scratches or by being exposed to the saliva of an infected animal through the eyes, nose or mouth.
“The best protection against rabies is to avoid contact with animals such as dogs and monkeys in countries that have rabies,” Dr Huppatz said.
“In addition, bats anywhere in the world, including in Australia, pose a risk and direct contact should be avoided especially if people are not wearing protective clothing.
“Even a light scratch from an animal needs to be taken seriously and requires a series of injections to be administered as soon as possible to prevent rabies.”
If you’re bitten or scratched by an animal or exposed to animal saliva on an open wound or through the eyes, nose or mouth:
- use appropriate first aid
- immediately and thoroughly wash wounds from animal bites and scratches with soap and water for at least 5 minutes
- apply an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine or alcohol to the wound after washing
- seek prompt medical attention to assess whether rabies prevention treatment is required, including while overseas.
People who are planning prolonged travel to rabies regions or who intend to have direct contact with bats – such as at a petting zoo - may wish to discuss vaccination against rabies with their general practitioner or a travel doctor before they go.
Rabies is not found in land-dwelling animals in Australia however, bats can be infected with Australian bat lyssavirus which can pose similar risks to humans.
For more information about rabies go to the HealthyWA website.
For travel health advice and information about travel vaccinations, go to the Australian Department of Health website.
ENDS
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