Popular UK holiday destinations classed as 'high risk' for rabies

High risk countries include Turkey, Thailand and India

Turkey is classed as a 'high risk' country for rabies by Public Health England (iStock)

Some of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits are categorised as high risk for rabies, including Turkey, Egypt and Morocco.

Around 1.6 million British tourists visited Turkey in 2017, while Egypt and Morocco welcomed 319,000 and 650,000 British visitors respectively last year, according to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).

European countries including Romania, Lithuania, Serbia and Montenegro are classed by Public Health England (PHE) as high risk for the viral disease, which is transmitted via a bite from an infected animal.

Other high risk countries on the list that are popular with British tourists include Thailand, India and Mexico. Brits make more than one million visits to Thailand each year, according to the FCO.

In general, developing countries are higher risk for rabies.

“Rabies is common in other parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa,” says PHE. “All travellers to rabies affected countries should avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever possible, and seek advice about the need for a rabies vaccine prior to travel.”

Developed countries are usually low risk. The US and Canada are both classed as low risk generally, although foxes, skunks and raccoons carry a high risk of the disease.

This month, a British tourist in Morocco died after being bitten by a cat.

“This is an important reminder of the precautions people should take when travelling to countries where rabies is present. If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal you must wash the wound or site of exposure with plenty of soap and water and seek medical advice without delay,” said Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisations at PHE.

“There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case but, as a precautionary measure, health workers and close contacts are being assessed and offered vaccination when necessary.”

Rabies is a viral infection that is typically contracted by a bite from an infected animal – usually dogs, cats, bats or more exotic animals such as raccoons.

If you are bitten abroad, the NHS advises cleaning the wound with running water and soap for several minutes and visiting a local medical centre immediately.

Once symptoms become apparent, rabies is usually fatal.

NHS advice states that Brits travelling to high risk countries should consider getting vaccinated against rabies, especially those who are planning to stay for more than a month or are planning to do activities that will put them at increased risk of exposure to animals with rabies.