Rabies in Kerala

htid

I've read some of the other threads on here about whether the rabies vaccination is worth it.

For anyone that hasn't read my previous post we'll be in Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady and Kovalam in May.

Now, I'm not going to ask "should I have the vaccination", but it's just that I wasn't advised in the UK, yet my girlfriend was in Germany. We have the NHS so I guess you could argue they don't want to suggest it unless it's quite vital, whereas she has a private doctor so you could argue he suggested it as it means more money for him. Basically what I want to ask is, is there a high/low risk of Rabies in Kerala, or is it just the same as anywhere else in India? I'm only asking because 1) She doesn't want to pay the €150 if she doesn't need it and 2) since malaria is less prevelant in certain areas, I wondered if rabies was too.

So we don't need to start a whole new thread on rabies as there are already plenty, I just want to know if there's a higher or lower risk in Kerala (or rather the places I listed, within Kerala) than other areas. Thanks!

pundabee

You have a great understanding of capitalism and its inherent deficiencies. Now it is time to become a communist.

You should read up on what a rabies vaccination actually does for you (or rather doesn't). The short story is that if you get rabies you die. The vaccine will give you more time to get to a hospital if bitten or licked by a rabid animal, but won't necessarily prevent rabies.

Where you are going there will be adequate facilities nearby.

The number of deaths in Kerala from rabies can be found here:

http://www.ecostatkerala.org/vitalstat/vsbull036.html

32 cases in 2003, which is, roughly, the same as the number of deaths from malaria. Just about no risk.

Best advice: Don't touch omnivorous or carnivorous animals.

edwardseco

That is essentially my advice. If you aren't in remote areas its of little value. Sorry to say I worked several years in remote areas and I never had it..

Nick-H

I've never considered it at all, until I came to have cat plus three kittens who all lick and scratch me --- but I still haven't had it.

If I ever move to a place that does not have a good hospital within an hours drive, then I will.

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htid

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep it in mind. She's decided to have them anyway which is her choice obviously.

edwardseco

Most politic decision for you implied..

brownboy66

I got the rabies course before coming to India. I'm not a mathematics genius or a statistician so wasn't willing to play the "odds" as to:

a) what are the chances of getting bitten by a rabid mammal?
b) what are the chances of not being near a medical facility if bitten,
c) what are the chance of receiving the right treatment if bitten.

On the last point, in one of the other rabies threads here a member told a story of getting a nasty bite and getting the vaccine. They were not given the immuglobulin (HRIG) in the bite area. Personally - I think they're damn lucky since you need the HRIG in the bite area if you haven't been vaccinated. It takes time for the body to produce antigens in response to the vaccine (which is why HRIG is injected into the wound site - its an antigen and is designed to start fighting rabies while you body produces its own antigens).

Its a judgement call - and it is bloody expensive - and you will probably have a great holiday free of incidents of any kind (let alone animal bites). For me the decision was easy. Rabies is 100% fatal. I'm not screwing with those odds.

Nick-H

I wonder how much it costs here?

brownboy66

probably still fairly hefty, but must be cheaper than in Europe I would guess?

htid

Is it though? I thought you can recover from rabies if you get treated in time. Or do you mean without that, it's 100% fatal?

federica

If you get bitten by an infected animal (even a scratch can be enough for an infection), and you get vaccinated immediately, normally you won't get it.

But if you get infected, it's 100% fatal.

The vaccination is suggested before as sometimes there is a shortage of vaccines in India or sometimes only the older vaccines are available and they can have serious side affects.

If you don't trust your doc, have a look at reputable travel related medical websites, maybe they can help.

@Nick
you could have your cats vaccinated... If they don't get it, you'll be safe, and I guess it's cheaper for animals.

Nick-H

Good point.

Mum has been already, when she was spayed.

They youngsters will be when they become old enough for the family planning, so yes, that excellent suggestion is in the pipeline.

htid

Just to be pedantic...

The "one known case..." is this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanna_Giese

brownboy66

hmmmmm.....interesting case. Inducing a coma to provide extra time for the vaccine to work was a clever idea. You do understand, however, that this simply allowed more time for the vaccine to fight the virus (i.e - prevented it from becoming widely established in the nerve tissue - it didn't reverse the damage already done or "cure" the rabies)?

I don't think the odds have gotten any better somehow!

htid

In that last case, the girl didn't have any sort of vaccine. But you're right, the odds aren't that high so I'll just hope I don't get bitten!

(Not tempting fate here much, am I )