Rabies in Haiti

Level 4 - Avoid All Travel
Level 3 - Reconsider Nonessential Travel
Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions
Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions

Key points

  • Increased cases of rabies have been reported in animals and humans in Haiti.
  • A case of rabies has been reported in the U.S. in a traveler from Haiti.
  • Travelers potentially exposed to rabies in Haiti should immediately seek medical care. Upon returning home, travelers should follow up with their health care provider as soon as possible.
  • To prevent rabies, travelers should avoid all contact with dogs (including puppies), cats (including kittens), and wild mammals while in Haiti, especially animals roaming freely on the streets.
  • Consider getting vaccinated against rabies before travel if you might come in contact with dogs, cats, or wildlife or plan to work with animals during travel.
  • If you are bitten, scratched, or have a fresh wound that is licked by a dog, cat or mammalian wildlife in Haiti, wash the wound immediately with soap and running water and seek immediate medical attention, even if
    • You don’t feel sick
    • The wound does not look serious
    • You were vaccinated against rabies before travel
  • Rabies in humans is preventable, but you must get care right away. Once symptoms of rabies develop, it is nearly always fatal.

Traveler Information

Clinician Information

Haiti
Map of Haiti (View larger)
What is Rabies?

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) in mammals. It is mainly spread through bites and scratches from infected animals such as dogs, cats, bats, foxes, jackals, mongoose, raccoons, and skunks.

Seek emergency medical care immediately if you think you were exposed to rabies. Rabies in humans is preventable, but you must get care right away. Once symptoms of rabies develop, it is nearly always fatal.

The first symptoms of rabies may start weeks or months after exposure and include weakness or discomfort, fever, headache and, if bitten, itching/prickling sensation at the site of the bite. Symptoms of severe disease follow the first symptoms and include anxiety, confusion, agitation, and hallucinations.