Rabies risk reminder if travelling abroad

19 Jun 2025

The UK Health Security Agency has reported a traveller from the UK has sadly died after becoming infected with rabies following contact with a stray dog whilst visiting Morocco.

This follows a recent report from Spanish authorities (in Spanish) on 13 June 2025 advising a Spanish traveller had died from rabies after suffering a dog bite during a visit to Ethiopia in July 2024.

Rabies is found in all continents, except Antarctica. For information on which countries are affected, see GOV.UK guidance on rabies risk by country.

According to the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, worldwide:

• over 5.5 billion people live with the daily risk of rabies.
• more than 59,000 people die from rabies every year. 
• over 95% of rabies deaths occur in Africa and Asia, with the majority occurring following dog bites (although dogs are not the only animal species that can present a risk for rabies)
• around half of the people who die from rabies are children.

What is Rabies? 

Rabies is a serious viral infection which affects the brain and nerves. The virus is spread through the saliva of infected animals. People usually become infected with rabies following a bite, scratch, or licks to your eyes, nose, mouth or broken skin from an infected animal. If this happens, you must know what to do (even if you had rabies vaccines before your trip).

There is no specific treatment available for rabies once symptoms develop, except for making the person as comfortable as possible. Only a small number of people with rabies are known to have survived.

Advice to Travellers

Before you travel, you should:

• check if rabies is a risk at your destination - see GOV.UK: Rabies risks by country
• determine if there will be any reliable medical facilities at your destination - see GOV.UK worldwide list of doctors and medical facilities 
• see a travel health professional (at least 4-6 weeks before you travel) if you think you might need a rabies vaccine course or booster dose
• be aware what to do if you think you have been exposed to rabies virus

If you are travelling to a country where rabies is considered a risk, you should:

• avoid contact with animals, especially dogs, cats, bats and monkeys
• some animals can be infected with rabies without being aggressive or behaving strangely
• be aware that children are more likely to approach animals
• check them for wounds, and encourage them to tell you if they are bitten, licked or scratched by an animal
• see the animal bites page for advice on how to prevent being bitten by bats and animals 

Effective and safe rabies vaccines exist for both humans and dogs, and if given are highly protective. 

See the fitfortravel Rabies page for further information.