Rabies in Kerala

Nick-H · Mar 29th, 2008, 18:40

I'd say no, but don't rush to get close to dogs, and especially not monkeys. Keep your distance, respectfully but not nervously. Give the dog its space.

Nuala · Mar 29th, 2008, 19:40

I am having my rabbies vaccination done over here ( Delhi ):
I just had my 2nd jab yesterday. I pay 345 Rs for each injection and there are 3 injections in total ( day 0, day 14, day 28).

I am having them done in a hospital around here ( St Stephens Hospital), and I only paid about 3 euros to have my registration for one year. Definetly much cheaper to get vaccinated over here than in Europe!

Cheers!

Nick-H · Mar 29th, 2008, 20:57

Thanks for that information.

th13rtin · Apr 9th, 2008, 02:32

dont take prophylatic vaccine (any vacine has its own risk)
rabies in kerala is not as common as u think (based on internet literature search)
vaccine are not 100% effective, it reduces incubation period and risk of infection and u would need multiple doses
if u get bitten/ licked my a dog, contact a tertiary level private or government hospital and get Human Immunoglobulin (costs about 300$ for a 70 kg person) and is 100% EFFECTIVE.
obviously prevention is better, hence stay out of animals, esp dogs and cats, and dont get tempted to feed/ pet the cute ones.

Nick-H · Apr 9th, 2008, 02:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by th13rtin

Medical Advice...

No.

Medical advice comes from doctors, not the internet.

MissAmes · Apr 9th, 2008, 03:11

If you are looking for a good travel clinic I would say use MASTA Travel clinic, they are recommended by the airlines. Our travel clinic back in Australia, govt endorsed one, also recommends its clients to go there. We're using their London branch for our boosters, but lucky for you there is a branch in Sheffield. Injections cost a little more but the upside for us is that they are open on the weekend and till later in the evening than your NHS doctors.
As for the Rabies injection, we travelled through Vietnam and China without it so will do the same again with India.
Enjoy your trip.

th13rtin · Apr 9th, 2008, 03:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

No.

Medical advice comes from doctors, not the internet.

suit yourself

vandy · Apr 9th, 2008, 07:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

No.

Medical advice comes from doctors, not the internet.

Quack,Quack. !!!!!!

vandy

zoltan · Apr 9th, 2008, 07:56

> But if you get infected, it's 100% fatal.
That's the situation for 99.9% of all people who do get bitten.

I recall reading a case (I think it was in the USA), where a person had been bitten by a (verified) rabid animal and survived - the scientific community were doing batteries of tests to work out how he survived.

The cost of getting vaccines in India is around the rp100 mark per shot.

As to whether you require the shots or not, is purely a numbers situation - will you get bitten or not - who knows.

As mentioned above, if you are within an hour of a good medical clinic, probably not required - however, if you are going anywhere off the beaten track for any period of time, then do get the shots - I always get boosters before returning to India.

Cheers
Zoltan

brownboy66 · Apr 9th, 2008, 09:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by th13rtin

dont take prophylatic vaccine (any vacine has its own risk)
rabies in kerala is not as common as u think (based on internet literature search)

hopefully any rabies carrying mammals in Kerala have read the same articles!

Quote:

vaccine are not 100% effective, it reduces incubation period and risk of infection and u would need multiple doses
if u get bitten/ licked my a dog, contact a tertiary level private or government hospital and get Human Immunoglobulin (costs about 300$ for a 70 kg person) and is 100% EFFECTIVE.

you do know the difference between the vaccine and HRIG? And that if you haven't been inoculated and get bitten - you need both?

machadinha · Apr 9th, 2008, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownboy66

hopefully any rabies carrying mammals in Kerala have read the same articles!

[Bat colony diligently flicking through the papers]: Damn, guys, we'd better move upstate

ps Vandy: Quack!

kristinm · Apr 9th, 2008, 10:47

I have posted on this in another thread so won't go over it ad nauseum - but remember a scratch can also pose a risk of rabies (I was scratched by a monkey) and there is a window of up to 9 years that you can develop the symptoms (and thus certain death) after being bitten, scratched or licked.

The Health Dept here recommended I get the course of injections - including the immunoglobulin into the healed up site of the scratch, even though I didn't think about it until a month after I was scratched, so I'm nearly finished the course now.

Interestingly - had I had the vaccinations before I left it would have cost me a fortune - but now that I'm having the post contact course of shots they Health Dept provides them free to my GP who bulk bills the appointment.... Weird but good for me.

Nick-H · Apr 9th, 2008, 12:16

And I suggest that you do not include Government hospitals in your calculations. Some may be good, others are not, and they may very well not have vaccines in stock

th13rtin · Apr 10th, 2008, 01:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownboy66

hopefully any rabies carrying mammals in Kerala have read the same articles!

you do know the difference between the vaccine and HRIG? And that if you haven't been inoculated and get bitten - you need both?

i dont think anyone would give Immunoglobulin without vaccines. its part of post exposure regime, n i am not arguing tht. all i was saying tht if u take prophylatic vaccine u tend to feel tht it covers everything , when in reality it doesnt, so best thing to do is not to use them, and then if exposed go for the full regime.

Nick-H · Apr 10th, 2008, 01:16

Mod bit:

th13rtin, please do not use SMS/Text abbreviations in your posts; it is against our policy, and if you do so, moderators may delete your posts.

Personal bit:

Yes, it would be very foolish to think that rabies vaccination actually protected one against the disease, without the need to seek further treatment. Foolish to the point of lethal stupidity!

So the best of both worlds, if one is going to be exposed to risk: vaccine and education!

I think anybody reading about rabies vaccination here cannot fail to become aware that it is not a get-bitten-and-don't-worry solution.

The consensus here appears to me that it is only worthwhile for visitors to remote areas, and for those who intend to work with animals; those who are at increased risk of getting bitten, and are likely to take longer to reach effective medical treatment.

The general opinion mostly expressed here (and it is an unqualified opinion, of course) is that it is not necessary for the average tourist visiting India.

Mar 29th, 2008, 18:40	#16
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,220	I'd say no, but don't rush to get close to dogs, and especially not monkeys. Keep your distance, respectfully but not nervously. Give the dog its space. __________________ . IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)

Apr 9th, 2008, 02:32	#19
th13rtin Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: OXFORD Posts: 4	medical advise dont take prophylatic vaccine (any vacine has its own risk) rabies in kerala is not as common as u think (based on internet literature search) vaccine are not 100% effective, it reduces incubation period and risk of infection and u would need multiple doses if u get bitten/ licked my a dog, contact a tertiary level private or government hospital and get Human Immunoglobulin (costs about 300$ for a 70 kg person) and is 100% EFFECTIVE. obviously prevention is better, hence stay out of animals, esp dogs and cats, and dont get tempted to feed/ pet the cute ones.

Apr 9th, 2008, 07:56	#24
zoltan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 435	> But if you get infected, it's 100% fatal. That's the situation for 99.9% of all people who do get bitten. I recall reading a case (I think it was in the USA), where a person had been bitten by a (verified) rabid animal and survived - the scientific community were doing batteries of tests to work out how he survived. The cost of getting vaccines in India is around the rp100 mark per shot. As to whether you require the shots or not, is purely a numbers situation - will you get bitten or not - who knows. As mentioned above, if you are within an hour of a good medical clinic, probably not required - however, if you are going anywhere off the beaten track for any period of time, then do get the shots - I always get boosters before returning to India. Cheers Zoltan __________________ India (and other) photos click here

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Mar 29th, 2008, 19:40	#17
Nuala You cannot walk straight when the road bends Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: London -Madrid....Now in Delhi! :) Posts: 33	I am having my rabbies vaccination done over here ( Delhi ): I just had my 2nd jab yesterday. I pay 345 Rs for each injection and there are 3 injections in total ( day 0, day 14, day 28). I am having them done in a hospital around here ( St Stephens Hospital), and I only paid about 3 euros to have my registration for one year. Definetly much cheaper to get vaccinated over here than in Europe! Cheers!

Mar 29th, 2008, 20:57	#18
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,220	Thanks for that information.

Apr 9th, 2008, 03:11	#21
MissAmes Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London Posts: 8	If you are looking for a good travel clinic I would say use MASTA Travel clinic, they are recommended by the airlines. Our travel clinic back in Australia, govt endorsed one, also recommends its clients to go there. We're using their London branch for our boosters, but lucky for you there is a branch in Sheffield. Injections cost a little more but the upside for us is that they are open on the weekend and till later in the evening than your NHS doctors. As for the Rabies injection, we travelled through Vietnam and China without it so will do the same again with India. Enjoy your trip.

Apr 9th, 2008, 10:47	#27
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,261	I have posted on this in another thread so won't go over it ad nauseum - but remember a scratch can also pose a risk of rabies (I was scratched by a monkey) and there is a window of up to 9 years that you can develop the symptoms (and thus certain death) after being bitten, scratched or licked. The Health Dept here recommended I get the course of injections - including the immunoglobulin into the healed up site of the scratch, even though I didn't think about it until a month after I was scratched, so I'm nearly finished the course now. Interestingly - had I had the vaccinations before I left it would have cost me a fortune - but now that I'm having the post contact course of shots they Health Dept provides them free to my GP who bulk bills the appointment.... Weird but good for me.

Apr 9th, 2008, 12:16	#28
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,220	And I suggest that you do not include Government hospitals in your calculations. Some may be good, others are not, and they may very well not have vaccines in stock

Apr 10th, 2008, 01:16	#30
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,220	Mod bit: th13rtin, please do not use SMS/Text abbreviations in your posts; it is against our policy, and if you do so, moderators may delete your posts. Personal bit: Yes, it would be very foolish to think that rabies vaccination actually protected one against the disease, without the need to seek further treatment. Foolish to the point of lethal stupidity! So the best of both worlds, if one is going to be exposed to risk: vaccine and education! I think anybody reading about rabies vaccination here cannot fail to become aware that it is not a get-bitten-and-don't-worry solution. The consensus here appears to me that it is only worthwhile for visitors to remote areas, and for those who intend to work with animals; those who are at increased risk of getting bitten, and are likely to take longer to reach effective medical treatment. The general opinion mostly expressed here (and it is an unqualified opinion, of course) is that it is not necessary for the average tourist visiting India.

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