I went to the travel clinic yesterday to update my immunizations before my trip to Zim in April, and one of the recommendations was that I get a three-shot series for rabies vaccination. Apparently, this is now a standard recommendation for all American's visiting Zimbabwe.

I politely declined (the price was astronomical), and promised that if I got bitten by any animal that I would seek local treatment.

Any of you get vaccinated against rabies before going to Zimbabwe?

I never have. Curiously, did they tell you if you had the series would you be immune to Rabies forever?

You do not need to be bitten by an animal to get Rabies, body fluid into a wound could possibly infect you as well. At least that is what I have been told.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
did they tell you if you had the series would you be immune to Rabies forever?

My wife and I got the 3 shot rabies vaccination (Rabies Imovax) spread over a couple of weeks before our drive thru africa.
According to my Int. Cert. of Vaccination though it only lasts a year.

For going far off the beaten path, and being alone with no possibility of medical help though, it can save your life. Which is why we took it, because of the nature of our trip.

But I wouldn't bother with it for a hunting trip unless you know you will be interacting a lot with local villages (and thus their dogs). Which is kind of unlikely.

I wouldn't think a rabies vaccination is necessary for a hunting trip.

Regards,

Terry

Erik,

That is interesting, I give my horse and cats yearly boosters but the dog is good for three years! All out of the same bottle.

Initial series is two the first year 3 weeks apart for each animal then one booster annually.

FWIW- There is no cure for rabies once it takes hold of you.

If fluids from infected animals get on you, Rabies can infect you through your eyes, nose or mouth. Or any other exposed oriface for that matter.

Certain rabies vaccinations contain a weakened (not dead pathogen). I don't know how long this immunization lasts but I am pretty sure it is more than a year. Not common for the General public to receive this type of immunization though.

I would lean on the experiences from the others on the board here who have been whether this is a required immunization or not.

It's the saliva of an infected carnivore that infects you, although i suppose blood could too (if you rubbed it in your eyes or mouth).

However, I've never skinned an animal or had such contact with one in africa. I've wanted to, but if I skinned all my animals, then I guess the skinners wouldn't have a job. They're always whisked away after photos.

I would say that you are in no more danger of running into a rabid racoon in africa than you are in your own back yard.

The difference is that if you see one in Africa, there's usually a rifle near by and you can shoot the little bastard.

Horses get rabies, Ann?

Get the shots! If you want to make the cost of the innoculations seem insignificant, read up on the way a typical rabies patient deteriorates and dies. NOT PRETTY! I also declined the shots before moving to Cairo and found that getting local treatment for such bites is not often easy. I was bitten by a cat my first week here and the local hospitals were either out of vaccine or reluctant to sell it due to its rarity. The classic lines were "Animals here don't have rabies" and "That is only a small bite so I wouldnt' worry about it". I wound up bribing the pharmacist to get my initial does (of 5 Verorab innoculations) and then convincing another local clinic to give me the rest. It probably cost me a lot less money (about $10 per shot) than it would have in the US but saving myself the inconvenience would have been worth getting them done at home.

Best,

JohnTheGreek

P.S. I believe rabies innoculations are good for two or three years and are supposed to be boosted in the event of a bad bite even during that time period. The preventative vaccine just serves as cheap insurance just in case treatment is unavailable for a few days. An MD here may be able to comment with more certainty here.

Wouldn't bother. My first "research job" after leaving the police was on the Rabies outbreak in Mat north. I spent two years catching bats& mongooses and taking samples.

a) Immunisation only lasts a year. you need an annual booster of 1/10 of a cc given sub cutaniously. Also. Three jabs may not buils your immunity up to the required level. Some people need five.

b) We have had two horrific rabies outbreaks that have killed thousands of animals. 86-87 and last year.

Some total of human deaths? 3 including one vet department guy working on rabid jackals.

c) locally we get two strains of rabies. Street and Makola. Your vaccine only works on street virus.

New Guy,

The only animals I have heard that don't carry rabies are rodents. So if a rat bites you it's safe to assume you won't get rabies, but he can always give you something else though!

I got the series of 3 vaccines when I was in vet school in 1990. For a while I got a booster every year. Now the recommendation is to get a titer (blood test) every couple of years to see how much antibody you have in your system and only get a booster if the titer is low. I have not had a booster in 6-7 years and my titer is still high.

There have been cases of people getting rabies through organ transplants from infected but undiagnosed donors and also from inhaling aerosolized virus in caves with infected bats but most of the time it is through a bite.

Suggest you visit CDC's website and read up on it then make your decision.

John

Dr. Scott,

I've been getting the rabies vaccine for the last 10 years annually. When I asked about checking the blood titer, I was told the test was more expensive than the shots. Can you shed light on this?

P.S.
I work at a global food producer, and since I also trap, I get the call anytime we get an animal inside the perimeter. Since it's Jersey, we cannot discharge firearms in the town where we are. Hence most coons are caught with a noose or rabies gloves. The heads are given to the health dept. and over the period of 10 years we've had at least one positive a year. Sure I've been bitten a few times, and the gammagoblin(?) sure does hurt, but I've never had rabies so far.

hjjefekn298j, Whoops! Sorry about that I bit the keyboard again.

GAHunter:

I suggest that Jumbo Moore gets a rabies shot to protect himself from a mad (Georgia bull)dog named Leon!

JudgeG,

I've already warned Jumbo about my probincity for "sleep walking" into strangers' tents and, let's say, getting to "know" them better. For this reason, he's decided to have no unattended trophy wives in camp while I'm there (including his own).

I think he was a little taken aback when I told him the sex of the victim didn't matter though. (He said something about keeping something cocked and unlocked while I'm there, whatever that means)


As for me being a rabies carrier, I think I had ought to keep that one to my self for now. There will be plenty of time for him to learn about these little quirks. Too much information might make him more nervous than he already is.


BTW, I ain't no damn bulldog. I'm a War Eagle/Tiger/Plainsman.

The titer cost me the same as the booster shot. Our local veterinary medical association organizes this for us and they may get us a better deal than the general public would get.

JudgeG,

I can't believe you are going to let that one go by with no comment!

Wouldn't do any good to respond. Auburn grads couldn't read the comments anyway....!

I would recommend anyone hunting with the good judge G to get their rabies shots, I have seen him slobber and foam at the mouth on several ocassions as the night progressed..scary shit! then drank mineral oil because he thought it was the last of the Vodka...again scary shit.

My condolances to Lee, Russ and Dale and my the Ruaha Gods be with you in July.

I always mispell may (my above) when I been drank'en....

Ray,

He's been drinking mineral oil for a long time. Claims it makes him look better to those drinking with him.