Fieldwork and the risks from animal bites

I have been living in Asia for the last ten years now and I continue to worry about the number of people who take unnecessary risks with their health when they work abroad. I thought that a few notes for zoologists involved in fieldwork might therefore be helpful. Fieldworkers are at increased risk of a selection of medical problems but most of these can be minimised with a little thought and planning. Perhaps the most obvious hazard to a primatologist is bites from the object of your studies. Any mammal can carry rabies and so any zoologist planning to work outside Britain or Australia (which are free from the disease) should be immunised. The vaccine has few side effects, is relatively expensive but should be free on the NHS to someone at occupational risk of rabies: to zoologists and vets. If you cannot persuade your GP to give it to you free, go to a travel clinic and ask for a 0.1 ml intradermal immunisation since this will be cheaper than having 1 ml intramuscularly.

Rabies is an awful disease and I would say that it is likely to be amongst the most unpleasant ways to die. If bitten by an animal which could be rabid, whether this is a village dog or a wild mammal, the first aid is to SCRUB the wound under RUNNING water for FIVE MINUTES and then flood with alcohol (local 'fire&endashwater' will do fine) or dilute iodine. Then if the bite is bad enough to require further dressings and treatment make sure no&endashone stitches the wound; suturing is bad news after animal bites. Bites often become infected so throbbing or spreading redness from the wound indicates you need medical attention. People who have been immunised require a booster after a bite and those who are un-immunised need a course of injections. The sooner you have these the better. If bites have been to the face and/or are very severe the incubation period is about a week and you have to seek help fast. If the bites are further from the brain you probably have more time. If you are bitten whilst somewhere remote do not just hope for the best but get the injections when you can get back. The incubation period can be very long so it is worth getting the injections even weeks after the bite. Don't just hope for the best. The other risk of bites is tetanus so good wound&endashcleaning is essential.

Working in remote places can expose zoologists to other hazards (especially malaria) and it is worthwhile seeking advice from a travel clinic such as one of the 35 British Airways Travel Clinics situated in various British towns and three in South Africa (UK Tel: 01276 685040 for the nearest); they sell malaria tablet memory cards, bed-nets, malaria treatment kits, repellents and a great deal more.

Jane's Lemurs of the Lost World (available for £5 post free in the UK from 22 Glen Dale, Rowlands Castle, Hants., PO9 6EP or for $11 in the US from PO Box 287, Great Falls, VA 22066) tells of some of the hazards of zoological fieldwork and her Bugs Bites and Bowels: the Cadogan guide to Healthy Travel (available from book shops) should help with preparations for a trip.

Dr Jane Wilson Howarth
PO Box 9246
Kathmandu
Nepal.