Rabies in Military Personnel: Epidemiology, Clinical Challenges, and Strategies for Prevention and Management
Abstract
For deployed military personnel, a single exposure from a rabies-infected animal can become a death sentence. With a case fatality rate approaching 100%, rabies remains a serious, yet insufficiently acknowledged hazard for service members, for whom prevention in operational environments poses unique challenges. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify relevant studies on rabies risk in armed forces personnel. By analysing rabies-related fatalities in the military, this review highlights the operational challenges posed by animal bites during deployment, including underreporting and delayed access to care, which compromise timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administration. Special emphasis is placed on prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and animal control protocols tailored to military settings. Its aim is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals involved in the protection of deployed forces against this ancient yet still deadly infectious disease.
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BibTeX
@article{monchatreleroy2026rabies,
title = {{Rabies in Military Personnel: Epidemiology, Clinical Challenges, and Strategies for Prevention and Management}},
author = {Elodie Monchatre-Leroy and Diana Isabela Costescu Strachinaru and Oula Itani and Sophie Wensierski and Alexandre Servat and Patrick Soentjens},
journal = {Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.3390/tropicalmed11090243},
url = {https://anses.hal.science/anses-05762270v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Rabies in Military Personnel: Epidemiology, Clinical Challenges, and Strategies for Prevention and Management
AU - Elodie Monchatre-Leroy
AU - Diana Isabela Costescu Strachinaru
AU - Oula Itani
AU - Sophie Wensierski
AU - Alexandre Servat
AU - Patrick Soentjens
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/26
JO - Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
DO - 10.3390/tropicalmed11090243
UR - https://anses.hal.science/anses-05762270v1
AB - For deployed military personnel, a single exposure from a rabies-infected animal can become a death sentence. With a case fatality rate approaching 100%, rabies remains a serious, yet insufficiently acknowledged hazard for service members, for whom prevention in operational environments poses unique challenges. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify relevant studies on rabies risk in armed forces personnel. By analysing rabies-related fatalities in the military, this review highlights the operational challenges posed by animal bites during deployment, including underreporting and delayed access to care, which compromise timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administration. Special emphasis is placed on prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and animal control protocols tailored to military settings. Its aim is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals involved in the protection of deployed forces against this ancient yet still deadly infectious disease.
SN - 2414-6366
ER -