Is greece rabies free

Greece is generally considered rabies-free in terms of dog rabies, and there haven’t been any cases of canine rabies there for many years. However, that doesn’t mean you should completely ignore the situation. It’s always better to be cautious with any potential exposure to rabies, especially when dealing with stray animals. As you weren’t bitten and only had contact with the dog’s fur resulting in some scratches, the risk of rabies transmission seems to be extremely low, but not entirely impossible. Rabies is primarily spread through bites, scratches that break the skin where the person is exposed to saliva from a rabid animal could pose a risk, though it’s much less common. Given this, consulting a healthcare professional is the best course of action. They’ll ask you more details about the contact and examine the scratches just to be sure. If there’s any concern, they might recommend post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is a preventive treatment, to reduce any risk of developing rabies. It’s better to get this kind of treatment soon after the potential exposure rather than later. While being this vigilant might feel excessive, it’s always best to prioritize safety given the potential severity of rabies, which is a nearly always fatal once symptoms appear. Balancing caution with an understanding of actual risk is key, and a healthcare provider can provide the assurance and guidance you need moving forward.