Rabies in Mozambique
The human rabies toll in Mozambique – with 72 people having died from the infection last year – is being blamed, in part, on insufficient funds for buying the necessary vaccines.
Most of the 11,000 notified rabies exposures last year were children and were from Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Zambezia and Inhambane.
Advice for travellers is that the disease is present in most countries and all travellers should be aware of the importance of avoiding contact with wild and domestic animals – especially dogs, which are the main source of infection. If bitten, urgent post-exposure treatment is needed.
Vaccination is normally recommended for those staying for more than a month, especially travellers planning to live in, or travel extensively through, rural areas; however, the final recommendation is itinerary-specific.