title: Animal-associated exposure to rabies virus among travelers, 1997-2012.
abstract: Among travelers, rabies cases are rare, but animal bites are relatively common. To determine which travelers are at highest risk for rabies, we studied 2,697 travelers receiving care for animal-related exposures and requiring rabies postexposure prophylaxis at GeoSentinel clinics during 1997-2012. No specific demographic characteristics differentiated these travelers from other travelers seeking medical care, making it challenging to identify travelers who might benefit from reinforced pretravel rabies prevention counseling. Median travel duration was short for these travelers: 15 days for those seeking care after completion of travel and 20 days for those seeking care during travel. This finding contradicts the view that preexposure rabies vaccine recommendations should be partly based on longer travel durations. Over half of exposures occurred in Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, China, and India. International travelers to rabies-endemic regions, particularly Asia, should be informed about potential rabies exposure and benefits of pretravel vaccination, regardless of demographics or length of stay.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Gautret
authors: Kira
authors: K
authors: Harvey
authors: Prativa
authors: P
authors: Pandey
authors: Poh Lian
authors: PL
authors: Lim
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Leder
authors: Watcharapong
authors: W
authors: Piyaphanee
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Shaw
authors: Susan C
authors: SC
authors: McDonald
authors: Eli
authors: E
authors: Schwartz
authors: Douglas H
authors: DH
authors: Esposito
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Parola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011818:Rabies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D011820:Rabies virus; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GeoSentinel; animal-related exposure; rabies; rabies virus; travel; viruses