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Rabies in India

01 Oct 2014

A high incidence of dog bites has been reported from Coimbatore in the state of Tamil Nadu, which lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula. At least 9000 individuals have received hospital treatment in Coimbatore after sustaining dog bites since the beginning of 2014; hospital staff report that between 30-40 dog bite injuries are treated daily. Four human deaths from rabies following dog bites have been recorded in the first 9 months of 2014.

Advice for Travellers

Travellers should be aware that India is a high risk destination for rabies and are advised to avoid all animal contact. Rabies pre-exposure vaccine is available for those considered to be at risk. All animal bites should be reported promptly for medical assessment.