Rabies: Areas Where It's More Common

Topic Overview

Due to successful animal vaccination programs, human rabies is not common in North America. But rabies can occur in all areas of the United States except Hawaii.

Rabies is a much bigger problem in other parts of the world than it is in North America. It's worse in developing countries where humans most often get it through dog bites.^{footnote 1} Areas where rabies is most common include Africa, Asia, India, Indonesia, and Central and South America. Travelers who will be spending time in rural parts of these areas are encouraged to get vaccinated against rabies.

Rabies occurs in most regions of the world, except Antarctica and some island nations, such as Japan and New Zealand. Some areas of Europe are also rabies-free. They include Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and most of Scandinavia.^{footnote 1}