Stray dogs and rabies the practical risk and what to do if bitten or scratched

Travel medicine again because this one genuinely matters and panic helps nobody The risk in proportion rabies is endemic but human cases are now rare here because the country runs an effective post exposure system and mass dog vaccination has cut transmission a careful traveller faces low but non zero risk the exposure is almost always a bite or scratch from a dog occasionally a monkey rarely a cat Pre exposure vaccine before flying worth it for longer trips remote travel cycling and running (movement triggers chase and bites) and anyone uneasy it does NOT mean you skip treatment after a bite it simplifies it removing the need for the harder to source immunoglobulin and buying you more time three pre travel doses over the weeks before departure ask a travel clinic now if your trip is soon The protocol if bitten or scratched and this is the part to memorise One wash the wound immediately and thoroughly with soap and running water for fifteen full minutes this single act is the most effective intervention and people skip it Two apply antiseptic Three go to a hospital the same day government hospitals and the larger private hospitals stock post exposure vaccine and treat bites as routine do not wait do not see if it heals Four if unvaccinated and the bite is significant they administer immunoglobulin plus the vaccine course if pre vaccinated you need only two follow up doses Availability and reliability good post exposure treatment is widely available across government hospitals free and competent this is an emergency the system handles daily The behaviour that prevents most bites do not pet street dogs do not feed them do not corner monkeys or photograph them close do not run directly at dog territory at dawn and back away calmly from any growling animal the mellow beach dogs are mellow until startled