Health agency issues advice of rabies risk in Turkey

Dr. Richard Smithson, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control with the PHA said: “In the past few weeks we have had several people returning from Turkey who have been bitten by animals and have had to be given anti-rabies treatment. This treatment is not pleasant as it consists of a series of injections. However, it is essential as rabies is always fatal and once it starts to develop it is too late to start treatment.

Rabies is spread through animal saliva, usually through a bite but it can also be spread through a scratch or by an animal licking a cut or wound, or saliva getting into the eyes, mouth or nose. It cannot be transmitted through intact skin. It is commonly spread by dogs but can be spread by other mammals including cats and monkeys. You cannot tell if an animal has the disease as they may appear well.

Dr. Smithson continued: “The message is simple: stay away from domestic and wild animals when abroad. It doesn’t matter how cute they look. If they bite you, you are going to end up spending a lot of time getting sorted out in a hospital casualty department.”

Dr Smithson concluded by saying: “People may be used to thinking about rabies when they go to more exotic locations like Asia and Africa but it can be present closer to home, not just in Turkey but in some eastern European countries as well for example. So it is always best to play it safe and avoid animals, especially strays.”