Rabies is a viral infection causing about 55,000 deaths worldwide every year. However, the occurrence of rabies virus is neglected not only among people living in endemic areas, but especially among travellers. Furthermore, many persons are not aware of the fact that rabies is almost always lethal. Some of the indications for a prophylactic vaccination are travelling to rabies-endemic areas, contact with possibly contaminated tissues as well as working as a veterinarian. Besides prophylactic vaccination it is possible to have post-exposure treatment after a contact with animals or tissue suspect of being infected with rabies. It is important to only use new vaccines where the virus has been cultivated on cell culture because vaccines of earlier generations bear immense risks for health. Adequate information on danger of rabies infection should be given to travellers and persons potentially at risk.