Key facts - Rabies

• Rabies is still present and still almost always fatal when left untreated²
• Rabies is estimated to cause 59,000 deaths annually with the vast majority occurring in Africa and Asia²
• Travellers may have misconceptions about rabies and may underestimate their risks for exposure^3,4
• European tourism to developing countries, where rabies persists as a serious risk, is on the rise^2,5
• Based on information from 2015, most travellers do not seek pre-travel medical advice from a healthcare professional³
• A bite, a scratch or even saliva on broken skin can cause fatal infection⁶
• Rabid animals act in surprising, unpredictable ways⁷