Guides / Injuries, illness, delays and lost bags
Bitten by a dog, monkey or bat abroad? What to do and what insurance pays
The short answer
Treat any bite or scratch from a mammal abroad as urgent. Wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes, then see a doctor the same day about rabies treatment. Travel insurance usually covers this under emergency medical, and evacuation can pay to move you if the treatment you need isn't available locally. This is general information; follow a doctor's advice.
Why bites are a big deal abroad
Rabies is still present in animals in many countries, including popular destinations in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Once symptoms appear it is almost always fatal, but treatment after exposure works when started promptly. Dogs cause most cases; monkeys at temples and tourist sites, cats and bats are also common sources.
What to do right away
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for about 15 minutes.
- Don't wait to see if it heals. See a doctor or go to a hospital the same day.
- Call your insurer's assistance line. They can point you to a clinic that stocks rabies vaccine and, if needed, rabies immune globulin.
- Keep records of each dose and the schedule; the course continues over a couple of weeks and may need to be finished at home.
Watch out: in some places, rabies immune globulin is in short supply. If it isn't available where you are, you may need to travel to a larger city or another country quickly. That's where evacuation cover matters.
What travel insurance usually pays
- Doctor and hospital visits, wound care and stitches
- Rabies vaccine and immune globulin
- Antibiotics and tetanus shots
- Travel to a hospital that has the treatment, under evacuation
- Trip interruption if you need to come home early
Follow-up doses after you're home may fall under your U.S. health plan rather than travel insurance.
Preventing bites
- Don't feed, pet or pose with stray animals or temple monkeys.
- Keep food out of sight around monkeys; they grab bags and sunglasses.
- For long trips, remote areas or work with animals, ask a travel clinic about a pre-exposure rabies vaccine.
Common questions
Does travel insurance cover rabies shots?
Usually yes, under emergency medical, when treatment is needed after a bite or scratch during the trip.
Is a scratch as serious as a bite?
It can be. Saliva on broken skin can transmit rabies. See a doctor.
What about snake or insect bites?
Emergency treatment for venomous bites and serious allergic reactions is usually covered under emergency medical.
Health information: see the CDC's rabies guidance for travelers.
This guide is general information, not insurance, legal or medical advice. Cover, prices and rules vary by insurer, plan, state and country, and they change. Read the policy wording, and check official sources for entry and passenger-rights rules, before you buy or travel.