New rabies advice
Monday June 25th, 2012
British experts want to encourage healthcare professionals to ensure they are up to date on how to treat rabies - amid signs of growing numbers of people needing treatment for the disease.
The Health Protection
Agency says the number of people needing the rabies vaccine after an incident
has increased by three times since the turn of the century.
It currently issues the vaccine post-exposure to about 1,000 people a year.
The HPA's new on-line training module sets out how to undertake structured assessments of the risk from potential exposure - and also how to obtain the vaccine.
Dr David Brown, of the HPA, said: "It's also important for UK travellers to remember that there is a risk of rabies through contact with infected animals, particularly dogs, in countries where the disease has not been eliminated.
"There are simple precautions travellers can take to avoid being infected such as avoiding contact with all animals, including bats.
"Anyone who has been bitten, scratched or exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of an animal abroad should clean the wound as soon as possible with soap and water and seek medical advice immediately.
"Post-exposure treatment with vaccine and human rabies immunoglobulin is highly effective in preventing rabies, if given soon after contact with an infected animal."
Tags: Flu & Viruses | Nursing & Midwifery | Traveller Health | UK News
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