4 ms·
Even though it is all cool about having well treated strays on Istanbul. There's also a non-negligible number of rabies cases in the city. Both from stray dogs
by augusto-moura 3y ago
Even though it is all cool about having well treated strays on Istanbul. There's also a non-negligible number of rabies cases in the city. Both from stray dogs and cats.
Last year I got scratched by a stray cat (details are unnecessary, but I was trying to help it to get out of a ledge it got stuck), and I was surprised to discover there was a small but existent chance of getting rabies. After pondering about it and getting advice from friends from the city, I decided to go on the arduous mission of getting a rabies shot on a holiday, not all hospitals work on holidays, even fewer speak English on a basic level. Even though I enjoyed my staying in general, this whole experience was a real PITA. Specially when I come from a place where rabies was practically erradicated in the last decades
- bgnn 3y agoSorry to hear that happened to you. Though as far as I know rabies is eradicated in the dog and cat population in the west of the country, especially in Istanbul. Municipalities vaccinate stray cats and dogs. It happens in the more remote areas in the east, but mainly in the dog population. Rabies in cats is rare as far as I know. The dogs are quite a big problem to be honest, but cats are ok. They don't harm people ir spread disease. One can argue seagulls are a bigger problem in Istanbul :)
- augusto-moura 3y agoYeah, I know it's a very slim chance. But rabies is, for all practical sense, a 100% mortality disease, so I couldn't risk not having a shot. I still had to continue getting the treatment (usually 4 doses) when I got home