Pre-exposure vaccination
for the rabies virus is
necessary for anyone who, because of
occupation or travel destinations, is at risk for
rabies exposure. Those professionals at risk
include, but are not limited to, veterinarians and
staff, animal handlers, wildlife officers, and
certain laboratory workers who work with the
rabies virus.
1
Globally, dogs are the main carriers of the
rabies virus, and rabies is found in all continents
except Antarctica.
2 International travelers should
consider pre-exposure vaccination if they are
likely to come in contact with animals in areas
where rabies in dogs is common and immediate
access to appropriate medical care might be
limited.
1 Canine rabies is found in most
countries within Africa, Asia, and Central
and South America.
2
Pre-exposure vaccination does not eliminate
the need for postexposure treatment; pre-
exposure vaccination merely simplifies the
therapy by eliminating the need for immune
globulin and decreasing the number of
vaccine doses.1 Whether a patient has
received pre-exposure vaccination or not,
anyone exposed to the rabies virus must be
given postexposure treatment.
