Should I get the pre-trip rabies jab before going to Sri Lanka in 2026

Travel-medicine doctor here. Realistic risk for a standard 3-week tourist trip is low but not zero: Sri Lanka still has rabies in dogs and monkeys, particularly outside well-vaccinated tourist zones. Pre-exposure vaccination (the 3-dose course) does NOT eliminate the need for post-exposure treatment; what it gives you is (1) more time to reach care without needing Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG), which is often in short supply, and (2) a simpler post-bite regimen (2 booster doses instead of 4 plus HRIG). For most short-trip tourists staying mostly in tourist zones, the pre-exposure course is "useful but not essential". For travelers doing extended trips, remote trekking (Knuckles, Sinharaja, the east coast), volunteer work with animals, cycling tours, or with children: STRONGLY recommended. If bitten or scratched: wash the wound with soap for 15 minutes, go to a government hospital immediately (PEP is free for tourists at government hospitals), and do not delay.