Nicaragua cat bite leaves Aussie tourist with $89,000 rabies vaccination bill amid insurance scare
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The simple travel mistake that cost an Australian tourist $89,000 after taking an overseas holiday
- Australian travelers’ holiday ended early after medical scare
- Sarah Lancaster potentially exposed to rabies from cat bite
- She rushed to the US to get vaccinated, at a cost of $20,000 each
A young Australian tourist has narrowly avoided paying a massive $89,000 medical bill after a seemingly innocuous bite from a cat left her fearing she may have contracted rabies.
Tasmanian woman Sarah Lancaster was on vacation in Nicaragua when she was bitten by a cat at her lodge.
Despite her friend cleaning the wound with water, no one at the shelter was able to verify to Ms. Lancaster that the animal had been vaccinated against rabies.
Fearing he had contracted the deadly disease, Lancaster approached the Australian health authorities, who implored him to seek treatment.
“I was playing with the cat and it was kicking me when it suddenly bit my left index finger. It was like a scratch with a puncture wound,” Lancaster said.
I was really worried. Rabies is 100 percent fatal, so even if there was a 0.1 percent chance of getting it, in my opinion it was better to just eliminate that.”
Sarah Lancaster (right) was on vacation in Nicaragua with friends when she was bitten by a cat.
Ms Lancaster was bitten by this cat photographed at her shelter, which could expose her to rabies, a disease that has a high fatality rate if not treated promptly.
Rabies can be prevented with vaccines, but it must be treated within seven days and before symptoms appear. Thousands of people die from the virus every year.
Following the advice of health authorities, Lancaster immediately abandoned his journey through Central America to find the nearest hospital that could provide treatment for the cat bite.
Unable to find any hospital with the appropriate vaccinations in Central America, his insurance company 1Cover booked him a flight to the US.
“1Cover wanted me to get prophylaxis as soon as possible and since this was not possible in Nicaragua, they flew me and a friend to Florida where I was able to get the shot,” Lancaster said.
The Tampa hospital was the closest option for her to receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a preventative treatment for rabies.
Ms. Lancastar received the first of four sets of injections within hours of arriving in the US.
But the shots were heavily priced at $20,000 each, which equates to A$29,839.
Ms. Lancaster needed to host the first three games in the US before she could fly to Australia for the final round.
In total, the rabies treatment in the US cost him US$60,000, or approximately A$89,000 at current conversion rates.
‘I couldn’t believe the price of the drinks. I definitely would not have been able to pay out of my own pocket,” she said.
Ms. Lancaster (right) checked into a US hospital to receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a preventative treatment for rabies.
Ms. Lancaster was lucky to have taken out travel insurance prior to her trip and 1Cover paid the entire bill of A$89,000.
Travel insurance provider 1Cover recommends avoiding animals abroad.
“Talk to your doctor before you go and find out what kind of vaccinations you may need, as this could save you a lot of medical bills,” said 1Cover spokeswoman Natalie Smith.
“Take precautions around animals, no matter how cute and friendly they are.”
I was really worried. Rabies is 100 percent fatal, so even if there was a 0.1 percent chance of getting it, in my opinion it was better to just eliminate that,” Lancaster said.