The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory warning of a 17% increase in rabies-related inquiries in July and August compared to the same period in 2025, alongside a 33% rise in rabies vaccine use and a 76% surge in rabies treatments since last year.
The CDC alert, distributed through its Health Alert Network, follows several high-profile rabies outbreaks and mass exposure events across multiple states. The agency emphasized the urgency of proper post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administration, citing errors in treatment reported by at least eight health departments.
Key developments:
- Maryland: A state park reported a rabies-positive beaver attack on visitors.
- North Carolina: Three baby goats at a mobile petting zoo tested positive for rabies, prompting health officials to recommend rabies shots for more than 260 people who had contact with the animals. Four goats were euthanized to prevent further spread.
- Treatment guidance: The CDC reiterated that PEP must begin immediately after exposure, involving wound cleaning, immune globulin administration, and a four-dose rabies vaccine series.
Public health response
The CDC’s advisory targets both clinicians and the public, urging doctors to perform careful rabies risk assessments and follow evidence-based PEP protocols. The agency also warned the public to avoid contact with wildlife and sick mammals, emphasizing that rabies is nearly 100% fatal if untreated before symptoms appear.
How rabies spreads
Rabies is primarily transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals, with bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes being the most common carriers in the U.S. Symptoms can include fever, anxiety, and hallucinations, with a typical incubation period of weeks before onset.
Clinical guidance and common errors
Healthcare providers are advised to:
- Clean bite wounds thoroughly with water or a diluted iodine solution.
- Administer human rabies immune globulin and the rabies vaccine in separate injections, avoiding co-administration in the same anatomical site.
The CDC noted that errors in treatment administration—such as incorrect injection sites or improper timing—have been reported, underscoring the need for strict adherence to guidelines.
Background on recent cases
In addition to the Maryland beaver and North Carolina goats, other incidents include:
- A skunk found in a petting zoo enclosure in North Carolina, believed to have exposed the goats.
- Multiple states reporting increased rabies activity in wildlife, contributing to the rise in human exposures.
The CDC’s warning comes as public health officials urge vigilance in both preventing exposures and ensuring correct treatment to avoid fatal outcomes.