CDC Issues Rabies Travel Alert for These 2 Countries-Here's What Travelers Should Know

"Both countries are still listed at "Level 1," which is the CDC's lowest warning level and comes with a recommendation to "practice usual precautions." For India, there has been at least one report of a case in the United States from a traveler who came from India. A counterfeit ABHAYRAB human rabies vaccine has also reportedly been circulating through major cities in India."

"In Haiti, the CDC has seen "increased cases of rabies" reported in both animals and humans there and at least one case of rabies has been reported in the U.S. in a traveler who came from Haiti. The CDC said travelers who do get bitten or scratched or have a fresh wound that is licked by an animal should wash the wound immediately and seek medical care even if they don't display any symptoms."

The CDC issued advisories about rabies risk for travelers to India and Haiti and listed both countries at Level 1 with usual precautions advised. India has at least one reported U.S. case linked to a traveler and reports of a counterfeit ABHAYRAB human rabies vaccine circulating in major cities. Haiti has increased rabies cases in animals and humans and at least one U.S. case from a traveler; Haiti also remains under a high State Department travel alert for security and limited healthcare. Travelers should avoid contact with dogs, cats, and wild mammals, get rabies vaccination before travel, wash and seek immediate medical care for bites or licks to fresh wounds, and obtain postexposure treatment because rabies is preventable before symptoms but nearly always fatal once symptoms develop.

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