CDC Warns Rabies Exposures Are Rising Across the U.S.

Rabies exposure is on the uptick across the U.S., prompting public health officials to issue an alert. Read on for what you need to know about protecting yourself from this deadly infection.

Rabies Exposures Increasing in the U.S.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory last week warning that rabies exposure is increasing across the country. According to the report, the CDC received 17% more rabies-related inquiries in July and August compared to the same time period in 2025.

The CDC also said that it fielded reports from eight state health departments regarding an increase in having to administer post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) care for rabies and PEP administration errors. A mass exposure event in North Carolina this summer was the most concerning incident of these reports. Almost 300 people visited a mobile petting zoo and were exposed to baby goats with rabies. The North Carolina state health department recommended that 213 people receive the standard PEP protocol.

In the new advisory, the CDC warned that “multiple United States jurisdictions have reported local increases in human rabies exposures involving known rabies vectors or animals in which rabies is less commonly reported" since the middle of July. The agency noted that “Several high-profile rabies outbreaks and mass rabies exposure events have highlighted the importance of performing careful rabies risk assessments and following evidence-based recommendations for administering PEP."

While rabies is nearly 100% fatal if not treated, the zoonotic disease is preventable when PEP care is given prior to the onset of symptoms. Roughly 100,000 people receive PEP treatment every year in the U.S. The protocol generally starts with wound care if there is an obvious bite or scratch.

The patient then receives a dose of human rabies immunoglobulin to fend off potential infection until the vaccines take effect. The rabies vaccines are administered at the first healthcare visit. The subsequent doses are usually given on days three, seven, and 14 after the initial dose. This protocol is slightly different if a person has been previously vaccinated against rabies or if they have a weakened immune system.

While four shots are not pleasant, today's modern PEP treatment is far more tolerable than past protocols that involved 30 shots in the stomach. Adults can now receive the shot in the shoulder muscle, and children can get it in the thigh over the two-week treatment period. Mild side effects include nausea, a sore arm, and headache.

The CDC also noted in the advisory that the need for rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin has increased dramatically this year. According to data as of September 2, the use of these vaccines and immunoglobulins is up by 33% and 76% compared with the same time frame last year.

Although the PEP protocol is nearly 100% effective in preventing death, the treatment must be started before symptoms appear. Waiting until symptoms develop is a death sentence. The disease impacts the central nervous system, triggering severe brain disease and death.

What to Do if You Believe You May Have Been Exposed to Rabies

The immediacy of the treatment strategy means that you should contact a healthcare provider right away if you believe you have been exposed. This is also true if you believe your pet has come into contact with wildlife or other animals presenting as sick.

Immediately wash any wounds with warm water and soap when bitten by an animal. Public health officials can ask questions to help you determine your risk and if a PEP treatment is prudent. Should another person's pet bite you, you must verify that the animal is up to date on its rabies vaccination.

Rabies is spread to humans through bites and scratches from an infected animal. The disease can also spread through oral secretions such as saliva.

Over 90% of all reported cases of rabies in animals in the U.S. are in wildlife and not in the pet population. Some of the most common animal species to carry and transmit rabies are bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks. According to the CDC, contact with infected bats is the number one cause of deaths in humans from rabies in the U.S. At least 70% of the rabies-related fatalities were tied to infected bats.

The CDC estimates that almost 75% of Americans live in areas where animals have been shown to carry rabies. The highest risk comes with outdoor activities, including camping, hiking, and hunting. Individuals with jobs that necessitate frequent contact with animals also have a higher chance of being exposed to rabies. This includes animal control workers, veterinarians, and wildlife researchers.

On a global scale, domestic dogs are to blame for more than 95% of the roughly 70,000 human rabies fatalities each year. Rabies in dogs is a widespread issue in parts of Asia, Central America, South America, and Africa. The CDC confirmed that over 80 Americans have died since 1990 after being infected with rabies while traveling abroad.

However, this is not a big problem in the U.S. thanks to widespread rabies prevention programs and tighter vaccination standards. For instance, veterinarians in the U.S. vaccinate more than 90 million cats and dogs for rabies each year.

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