Vaccination

[Marithol]

Hi, our cruise is stopping at Gibraltar, which means monkeys! I don’t intend to get close to them, but sometimes they have their own agenda. Are others sopping at this port getting a rabies vaccination?

[ldubs]

We did not when we visited there.  As you probably have read, the little critters seem to want to pose for pic's with you.  They also like to steal shopping bags and purses.  

[Krazy Kruizers]

We also did not get the rabies shots for that port.

[cb at sea]

Unless you are bitten or otherwise exposed to rabies, there is no need for shots.  IF you were bitten, then there is treatment. The rabies vaccine is quite costly! 

[Marithol]

Thanks for the advice ! 

[Velvetwater]

Gibraltar is a common place for Brits for a break and I have never known anyone here to get a rabies shot when going there.

 

I share your concern however as I was wondering about it when visiting Bali this past summer and the monkeys in Ubud. Decided not to and didn't make it to Ubud anyway.

 

People are right about it being expensive and also it takes a few trips and in a few cases can be painful even with the new system.

 

Edited December 17, 2018 by Velvetwater

[SRF]

Just an FYI, the rabies series is a 6 month series of 3 shots.  So unless you cruise is a ways off, it would not help at all.

 

And you have a low probability of getting bit, so if you do, there is a post bite treatment.

 

And anyway, if a monkey bites you, rabies is the least or your worries.  They are very close to humans physiologically and carry a LOT of things that you really don't want to get.

[wheezedr]

No rabies vaccination is necessary or advised for this stop.

[calliopecruiser]

On 12/17/2018 at 7:48 AM, cb at sea said:

IF you were bitten, then there is treatment. The rabies vaccine is quite costly!  

If you think the rabies vaccine is costly, you should see the cost of treatment for those exposed.........it can be $3000 - $10,000 dollars.  

 

A rabies vaccine (as was stated) involves a series of 3 boosters and, if there is subsequent exposure, a series of 2 more boosters immediately after the exposure would be necessary.  It's not like getting vaccinated against hepatitis, where you're almost 95% protected from the virus and no further care is needed.  If you're vaccinated and exposed to rabies virus (eg saliva into an open cut), it is still need immediate treatment, with boosters on the first and third day after exposure.  Rabies vaccines are intended for people who work with animals who might unknowingly be infected with rabies, not as travel protection. 

[calliopecruiser]

50 minutes ago, calliopecruiser said:

It's not like getting vaccinated against hepatitis, where you're almost 95% protected from the virus and no further care is needed.

Sorry, I mistyped........I should have said ".....where almost 95% of people are fully protected and no further care is needed."

[SRF]

2 hours ago, calliopecruiser said:

If you think the rabies vaccine is costly, you should see the cost of treatment for those exposed.........it can be $3000 - $10,000 dollars.  

 

A rabies vaccine (as was stated) involves a series of 3 boosters and, if there is subsequent exposure, a series of 2 more boosters immediately after the exposure would be necessary.  It's not like getting vaccinated against hepatitis, where you're almost 95% protected from the virus and no further care is needed.  If you're vaccinated and exposed to rabies virus (eg saliva into an open cut), it is still need immediate treatment, with boosters on the first and third day after exposure.  Rabies vaccines are intended for people who work with animals who might unknowingly be infected with rabies, not as travel protection. 

 

Of for those of us who travel to some not so nice places, with known roving packs of animals. 😄

[jocap]

The Barbary macaques of Gibraltar are all micro chipped, inoculated and have regular check ups with a vet. Although they appear wild, they are fed at regular times, and if you look to the left of the cable car landing, you may see the piles of fruit etc.

[Heidi13]

Did not require any additional vaccinations for visiting Gibraltar.

[dhonaker]

We visited Gibraltar earlier this year on land and saw several monkeys.  Unless you try to touch them or pick them up, which is highly illegal, there's no need to rabies shots. 

[jocap]

The primatologist working with the monkeys has stated that because they are vegetarian, they don't contact rabies, so are not inoculated against it. They are inoculated against lice, micro chipped,  and some females have contraceptive pellets in their arms.... they are pretty well looked after, in fact!

[SRF]

18 hours ago, dhonaker said:

We visited Gibraltar earlier this year on land and saw several monkeys.  Unless you try to touch them or pick them up, which is highly illegal, there's no need to rabies shots. 

 

Unless you have something that catches their eye, and they want.

 

They WILL come after it.

[SbbquilterUT]

I chose to stay in the van at that point of the drive up the rock.