Rabies
Rabies is an acute viral infection that is nearly always fatal. Transmission is usually through saliva via the bite of an infected animal, with dogs being the main transmitter of rabies to humans. The World Health Organization has estimated the annual number of human rabies deaths to be in excess of 55,000. Most of these deaths take place in developing countries, particularly in South and South East Asia.
The Health Protection Agency provides advice to health professionals on pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies, and issues rabies vaccine or vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin according to Department of Health recommendations. It also provides advice about suspected human cases of human rabies.
What's new
21 March 2013: Rabies in northern Greece, update
21 October 2012: Rabies diagnosed in a fox in northern Greece
22 June 2012: Launch of rabies elearning module on eHealth. eHealth is an online education and training tool for healthcare professionals in the NHS and the HPA. It can be accessed by registering at the e Health Learning website [external link]. To find the rabies module, enter the HPA Emergency Response Portal.
23 May 2012: Confirmed case of rabies in London
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