News
Worldwide rabies risk reminder
A reminder for travellers of the global risk of rabies and reporting of a rabies death in a UK Traveller in 2025
Falsified rabies vaccine: Zimbabwe
Falsified rabies vaccine is circulating through unauthorised sources in Zimbabwe
Rabipur Rabies vaccine product alert for health professionals
Reports of rubber particles after reconstitution- recommendations to minimise the risk of particles
Rabies vaccine shortage: advice for health professionals
Important advice on rabies vaccine shortage for health professionals
Rabies risk worldwide: practical advice for travellers during rabies vaccine shortages
An important reminder of practical aspects of rabies prevention for travellers
Zoonoses (diseases from animals) in travellers
A zoonotic disease is one that spreads between animals and humans and has the potential to be an increasing problem for travellers
Factsheets
Rabies
Rabies occurs in warm-blooded mammals and is transmitted to humans, most often by a bite or scratch from an infected animal, usually a dog
Topics
Rabies
Rabies is transmitted to humans usually by a bite or scratch from an infected animal (usually a dog) and almost always fatal once symptoms appear
Outbreaks
Bat lyssavirus in Australia
On 8 July 2025, a man previously reported as being critically ill with bat lyssavirus in New South Wales, died. This is the state's first confirmed case of Australian bat lyssavirus in a human being.
Rabies in Thailand
As of 7 July 2025, a total of seven deaths from rabies have been reported: Chonburi, Sisaket, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Ratchasima (two cases), Tak, and Rayong during 2025. This is three times more than the number of deaths reported for the same period in 2024. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on rabies.
Rabies in Namibia
On 17 June 2025, the Namibia Ministry of Agriculture confirmed the first case of rabies in a Cape fur seal in Walvis Bay Lagoon. The seal was observed to display signs consistent with rabies on 13 June 2025 and later died. See our Topics in Brief article for futher details on rabies.
Rabies in Timor-Leste
The World Health Organization reported six human rabies cases between April 2024 and 15 June 2025 in Timor-Leste. Five of these cases have been fatal, whilst one remains hospitalised. Out of the 1,445 high risk dog bite exposures reported in the same time period only 18% received the recommended immunoglobulin. Rabies cases in dogs continue to be reported from multiple municipalities during 2025. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on rabies.
Rabies in United Kingdom ex Morocco
On 18 June 2025, it was confirmed that an individual from the UK has sadly died after becoming infected with rabies, following contact with a stray dog during a visit to Morocco. There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case as there is no documented evidence of rabies passing between people. Rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK, although some species of bats can carry a rabies-like virus. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on rabies.
Rabies in Spain ex Ethiopia
In early June 2025, the Valencian Health Department reported a fatal case of rabies in a Spanish resident bitten by a dog during a trip to Ethiopia in July 2024. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on rabies.
Rabies in USA
On 28 March 2025 the Florida Department of Health issued a rabies alert in response to a confirmed case of rabies in a horse in Miami-Dade County. The Florida Department of Health (Miami-Dade State) is monitoring rabies among wild animals in the area. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on rabies.
Rabies in USA
On 3 March 2025, health authorities in Florida issued a rabies alert for Volusia County in response to a confirmed rabies case in an unvaccinated cat captured on Ormond Beach in February 2025. Please see our Topics in Brief article for further details on rabies.
Rabies in Canada
A human case of rabies has been confirmed in a resident of Brantford-Brant. This is the first ever detection of human rabies in Brantford-Brant, and the first detection in Ontario since 1967. The suspected exposure was from a bat in the Gowganda area of Timiskaming region.
Strand
Cape Town
Rabies in South Africa
On 7 June 2024, a case of rabies was confirmed in a wild Cape fur seal. Suspected positive results have also been received for seals sampled at Strand on 15 May and Muizenberg on 26 May.
