UK tourists in Greece warned about condition that is 'almost always deadly'

A health organisation linked to the UK Foreign Office has warned some travellers heading to Greece. The Travel Health Pro website is listed on the Foreign Office’s ‘Health’ travel advice page.

The website shares different vaccines and safety tips for tourists, but one of their recommendations might affect a particular group of travellers.

In the section called ‘vaccine recommendations’, the site suggests that some people consider getting a rabies vaccine.

Rabies is a serious illness that can be spread by animals like dogs, cats, farm animals, and wildlife. In Greece, there’s one animal that travellers should be extra careful around.

Bats in Greece could carry rabies, which can spread to people or other animals through their saliva. This usually happens if someone is bitten or has an open cut that comes into contact with the bat’s saliva.

The website does say that bat rabies is “rare”, but the virus—called lyssavirus—can cause illness in humans that looks just like regular rabies.

Although experts say the “risk to most travellers is low,” they explain that if someone is bitten by a bat with rabies, the illness is “almost always fatal.”

The site also mentions that this risk mostly applies to people who work with bats, like scientists or vets—but anyone going caving should be careful too.

The advice explains that “certain activities like caving” might increase the chance of catching the illness. There haven’t been any reported cases, but bats found in Greece can carry this disease.

Greece is home to 35 types of bats, so this advice may be useful for anyone who plans to explore caves while on holiday.

The risk is still low, but the website gives tips for people who want to stay extra safe during their trip.

To avoid danger, health experts say: “Travellers should avoid contact with bats. People often don’t realise they’ve been bitten. Illnesses like rabies caused by bat lyssaviruses can be prevented with quick treatment after exposure.”

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