Rabies not been in the uk for 7 years?

Hi there,

Don't worry, there is no need to panic. Rabies is not endemic in the UK. The last case of terrestrial rabies was in 1902 - over 100 years ago!

The vast majority of rabies cases in the UK are due to victims being bitten/scratched by a rabid animal (usually dogs or puppies) in a rabies endemic continent such as India or Africa, whilst away on holiday.

However, there was one case in 2002 where a Scottish naturalist was bitten by a Daubenton bat and he sadly contracted the European Bat Lyssavirus type of rabies, and died.

However, once again, there is no need for mass panic or vaccinations. Only people who work closely with the bat population are vaccinated, this is stipulated now by the Bat Conservation Trust. The general public are told not to handle bats at all, and leave them to the experts.

Please see : www.bats.org for more information.

However, vaccinations are available and offered prior travelling to rabies endemic countries, they have to be given within a certain time of travelling in order for them to be effective if bitten whilst away. However, they can be expensive, and some people decide not to have them, or are simply unaware of the dangers.

If one thing comes out of this sad affair, it is that people will be made much more aware of the dangers before travelling to rabies endemic countries, and they will be able to make a better informed decision, taking into consideration the risk as well as the cost.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes W:)

Being an island has helped the UK, as rabid animals cannot easily cross from Europe to infect animals here. Also strict quarantine rules ensue that the animals which are brought in are free from the disease. Six months in quarantine is longer than the incubation period of rabies, so it would show before the end of that time. People would be treated when they returned to the country with the disease, and are isolated in the same way. It is the strict adherence to the policy which makes mass vaccination unnecessary.

She was bitten in the Far East and travelled back...hardly rabies in the UK is it?!

Anyway - rabies is VIRTUALLY non-existant in British wildlife with the exception of a few isolated bat colonies...neither of which come into contact with humans normally.

So - why mass vaccinate?

You can get vaccinated for rabies before going abroad but people don't like injections or paying for them.