To the Editor: Rabies vaccine is recommended for pre-exposure prophylaxis in travellers over 1 year old who intend to travel to predominantly developing countries where canine rabies is endemic. The incidence of dog bites in such countries is relatively high, being more common among travellers than typhoid fever.1 Postexposure rabies treatment of pre-immunised travellers is simpler, cheaper and safer than treatment of those who have not been immunised.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- The Travel Doctor (TMVC), Melbourne, VIC.
- 1. Steffen R, Connor BA. Vaccines in travel health: from risk assessment to priorities. J Travel Med 2005; 12: 26-35.
- 2. World Health Organization. International travel and health. Situation as on 1 January 2005. Geneva: WHO, 2005.
- 3. National Health and Medical Research Council. Australian immunisation handbook. 8th ed. Canberra: NHMRC, 2003.
- 4. Atanasiu P, Perrin P, Delagneau JF. Use of an enzyme immunoassay with protein A for rabies antigen and antibody determination. Dev Biol Stand 1980; 46: 207-215.
- 5. Lau C, Sisson J. The effectiveness of intradermal pre-exposure rabies vaccination in an Australian travel medicine clinic. J Travel Med 2002; 9: 285-288.