Petting Stray Animals Abroad Could Be Deadly – Expert Warns Travellers After Rabies Case Confirmed Holidaymakers are
Petting Stray Animals Abroad Could Be Deadly – Expert Warns Travellers After Rabies Case Confirmed
Holidaymakers are being urged to avoid stroking stray cats and dogs abroad—particularly in countries with known rabies risks—following a warning from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) after a fatal rabies case linked to travel in Morocco.
Mark McShane, Food Hygiene Expert at Food Hygiene Certificate, is calling for greater awareness of the hidden dangers that come with interacting with animals while travelling.
The latest rabies case, confirmed by UKHSA, is the second in recent years to involve contact with a dog overseas. Both were fatal.
“Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. What people don’t realise is that it’s not just bites—scratches and even licks on broken skin can transmit the virus,” McShane explains. “No matter how friendly a stray looks, the risk is simply not worth it.”
Beyond Rabies: The Hygiene Hazards of Petting Stray Animals
McShane also warns that stroking or handling animals while abroad—particularly strays—can expose travellers to a wide range of other infections, including:
- Parasitic infections – Fleas, ticks and mites on stray animals can carry dangerous parasites and diseases, including Lyme disease and mange.
- Bacterial infections – Bites and scratches can introduce harmful bacteria such as Pasteurella, Capnocytophaga, or even MRSA.
- Viral threats – Cats and dogs abroad may harbour zoonotic viruses, including cowpox, influenza strains, and West Nile virus.
“These aren’t just risks for the vulnerable,” McShane adds. “Anyone—especially children—can be exposed to serious illness by doing something as innocent as petting a cat on the street.”
Mark McShane recommends the following precautions for anyone travelling abroad this summer:
- Avoid all contact with stray cats and dogs, regardless of how tame or friendly they appear.
- Seek immediate medical attention abroad if bitten, scratched, or licked on broken skin by any animal.
- Practice good hygiene: wash hands regularly and carry hand sanitiser when exploring.
- Be cautious with local food: unhygienic conditions in markets or street stalls can increase the risk of foodborne illness, especially if animals are roaming nearby.
- Consider pre-travel vaccines, especially when visiting rabies-endemic countries such as Morocco, India, Thailand or parts of South America.
- Rabies is not present in wild animals in the UK, but is common in many parts of the world.
- The latest case is only the second confirmed rabies death in the UK in over a decade.
- Images and expert Q&A available upon request.