Thought to be the inspiration behind legends like the vampire and the werewolf, the rabies virus poses a serious risk for travellers around the world. In the second episode of Travel Unravelled, hosts Dr. Anne McCarthy and Dr. Albie de Frey sink their teeth into all things rabies with podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib.

Discover the insidious nature of rabies, why it's considered one of the most fatal diseases in existence, how you can protect yourself before travelling to rabies-prone regions — and what to do if you get exposed to the virus from an animal bite. Featuring interviews with such rabies experts as the deputy director of South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Dr. Lucille Blumberg, and the medical director of Belgium's Institute of Tropical Medicine, Dr. Patrick Soentjens, our second episode chronicles the evolution of rabies prevention recommendations, from vaccine developer Louis Pasteur to the state of the art today.

LINKS

• Travel Unravelled is sponsored by IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers.

• Learn more about the upcoming CISTM19 in New Orleans this May 2025.

• Planning a trip? Consult with this CDC Rabies Assessment to see the risk level of your destination.

• See CDC's 2024 Rabies Yellow Book

• Read the WHO Guide for Rabies Pre and Post Exposure Prophylaxis in Humans, which guest Dr. Patrick Soentjens helped to develop.

• Learn more about the fascinating ancient history of rabies in this Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease article.

• Read Dr. Lucille Blumberg's bio.

• Read Dr. Patrick Soentjens's bio.

• See the travel medicine website and app that Dr. Patrick Soentjens mentions, Wanda.be.

CLINICAL PEARL

• Read the article that Dr. Olivier Aoun discussed in this episode's pearl:

• Multi-drug resistant gluteal abscesses due to Mycobacterium abscessus following medical tourism for cosmetic purposes to Mexico in the Journal of Travel Medicine