Rabies postexposure prophylaxis in returned injured travelers from France, Australia, and New Zealand: A retrospective study

Abstract

Background. There is little published information available describing rabies pre- and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) in tourists returning to their home country and seeking care for animal-associated injuries, especially those associated with a rabies risk. Method. We analyzed 261 travelers seeking care on returning to their home country following an animal-related injury acquired abroad. Information on individual cases of rabies (PEP) including preexposure status, type of contact with a potentially rabid animal, type of animal, and the nature of rabies PEP was collected by retrospectively analyzing records from May 1997 to May 2005. Results. The majority of injuries were acquired in South-..