Rabies update

Despite its relative rarity in industrialized countries, rabies continues to cause significant mortality worldwide with annual deaths estimated at over a hundred thousand. Recent epizootics in wild animals in the United States have renewed fears of rabies in this country. Additionally, nucleotide analysis to determine the source species for human rabies infections has led to new recommendations regarding exposure to bats. Fortunately, excellent human and animal vaccines are available and the development of new cell culture vaccines should help ease the current vaccine shortages. Travelers to developing countries should consider preexposure vaccination to avoid difficulties obtaining rabies immune globulin, which is in short supply worldwide, for postexposure prophylaxis should an exposure occur.