How cold does it get in Kenya at nighttime?

How likely is it to get Rabies in countries such as Tanzania and Kenya?

• Hopefully I'll be going to Africa next month to do some voluntary First Aid work. I'm getting a Yellow Fever injection done next week and it was recommended that I get injected for Rabies as well. However, the injections are expensive and I'm just a broke student, not to mention that 3 injections are needed and I'll be leaving before the time of the third one. I thought I might just take my chances and go without the injection, hoping that I don't get bitten. How likely is it to get Rabies in these countries? Is it a very fatal illness? Will I survive it if I get bitten so long as I recognize the symptoms and get to the hospital before it's too late? I know a girl who went to Ghana without Rabies injections and nothing happened to her.

• Answer:

  Rabies is very serious and the jabs are not an immunisations but would give you time to get treatment. Saying that it is fairly unlikely you will contract rabies unless you are planning to mix with wild animals or go near dogs or cats. If you take the precaution not to stroke the strays, don't handle wild animals then rabies is very very unlikely to be a problem. Rabies once contracted is a serious illness, it needs swift medical assistance and is often fatal, but as said you shouldn't have a problem. What you will need as a medical worker is Hepatitis A, B Typhoid, cholera (check this one as not that effective), Yellow fever is only needed if going into a Yellow fever Zone, Tetanus, and of course TB (that ones usually done while at school). Check which anti malaria tablets are right for the area you are going to (some areas are immune to certain types) , these are also expensive and often much cheaper in Africa and can be brought over the counter at chemists in large quantities. However if your going to be with a voluntary aid group they should be able to advise you, check with them. Also check the entry requirements of the country you are going to, some insist on certain inoculations and you'll need proof (rabies isn't one of these, but yellow fever is) There are 3 or 4 jabs required for rabies shots to be effective, and yes they are expense,