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HealthQuiet 12d · day 14

CDC warns of 17% spike in rabies exposures across U.S.

The agency reports surging human contact with potentially rabid animals and mass exposure events from coast to coast.

newest coverage 12d agosummary written 13d ago12 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • The CDC fielded 17% more rabies-related inquiries in July–August 2026 than in the same period in 2025, with mass exposure events including nearly 300 people potentially exposed to rabid goats at a mobile petting zoo in North Carolina.
  • Multiple states—Texas, Louisiana, Idaho, Virginia, and Florida—reported confirmed rabies in pets and wildlife; use of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis vaccines and immunoglobulin surged 33% and 76% respectively.
  • The CDC issued a health alert to clinicians citing increased PEP administration errors and emphasizing that proper vaccination before symptom onset is critical; a full PEP course costs $11,000–$14,000 per person.
  • Rabies is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms develop but preventable with timely post-exposure prophylaxis; the U.S. has seen only one to eight rabies deaths per year since 2000 due to widespread vaccination programs.

“Please check your dogs' and cats' vaccination records and make sure their rabies vaccines are current. Louisiana requires dogs, cats and ferrets over 3 months of age to be vaccinated against rabies.”

Jennings Animal Shelter, Louisiana animal shelter · Newsweek (Facebook post) ↗

CDC Federal health agencyFitzgerald Animal Hospital Louisiana animal hospitalJennings Animal Shelter Louisiana animal shelterNorth Carolina Department of Health State health authority

CDC warns of 17% spike in rabies exposures across U.S.
MedPage Today

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 7 pieces in 4h at Sep 11, 11 AM; 12 pieces over 14 days (10 articles · 2 posts) Sep 11, 11 AM — 7 pieces · 6 articles · 1 post — Google News 4, Newswires 2, Mastodon 1Sep 11, 3 PM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Sep 11, 7 PM — quietSep 11, 11 PM — quietSep 12, 3 AM — quietSep 12, 7 AM — quietSep 12, 11 AM — quietSep 12, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 12, 7 PM — quietSep 12, 11 PM — quietSep 13, 3 AM — quietSep 13, 7 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Sep 13, 11 AM — quietSep 13, 3 PM — quietSep 13, 7 PM — quietSep 13, 11 PM — quietSep 14, 3 AM — quietSep 14, 7 AM — quietSep 14, 11 AM — quietSep 14, 3 PM — quietSep 14, 7 PM — quietSep 14, 11 PM — quietSep 15, 3 AM — quietSep 15, 7 AM — quietSep 15, 11 AM — quietSep 15, 3 PM — quietSep 15, 7 PM — quietSep 15, 11 PM — quietSep 16, 3 AM — quietSep 16, 7 AM — quietSep 16, 11 AM — quietSep 16, 3 PM — quietSep 16, 7 PM — quietSep 16, 11 PM — quietSep 17, 3 AM — quietSep 17, 7 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 3 PM — quietSep 17, 7 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 3 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 3 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 3 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietSep 23, 3 AM — quietSep 23, 7 AM — quietSep 23, 11 AM — quietSep 23, 3 PM — quietSep 23, 7 PM — quietSep 23, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quiet 1–2
Sep 12Sep 13Sep 14Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22Sep 23now · 11:58 AM ET
  1. 2

    CDC issues health advisory warning doctors of rabies spike and PEP administration errors

    The CDC sent a Health Alert Network advisory to clinicians warning of increased human exposures to rabid animals and reporting that at least eight state health departments documented increased use of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP administration errors. Vaccine and immunoglobulin use surged 33% and 76% respectively in July–August 2026 versus 2025.

    “Proper administration of rabies vaccine and human rabies immune globulin is critical to ensuring patients receive effective protection while avoiding unnecessary treatment, costs, and strain on supplies.”
    — CDC
    1. 2 outlets CDC Warns Doctors About Spike in Rabies Activity

      first by MedPage Today, 13d ago · also Forbes

      2 more headlines
  2. 1

    CDC publicly alerts on nationwide rabies exposure increase

    The CDC issued a public health advisory stating that rabies is nearly 100% fatal but preventable when PEP is given appropriately before symptoms begin. The agency emphasized the importance of careful risk assessment and noted that a typical PEP course costs $11,000 to $14,000 per person.

    “Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease that is nearly 100% fatal, but it is preventable when PEP is given appropriately before patient symptoms start.”
    — CDC
    1. 3 outlets CDC issues alert about nationwide increase in rabies exposures

      first by WTOP News, 13d ago · also WRDW, CNN

      1 more headline
    2. 1 outlet National Increase in Reported Human Rabies Exposures

      first by San Diego County News Center, 13d ago

  3. background

    Louisiana confirms rabid dog, pending testing of household pets — A pet dog in the Mire area of Louisiana tested positive for rabies and was euthanized. Additional testing on other dogs from the household is pending. Animal hospitals and shelters in Louisiana issued public warnings.

  4. background

    Texas reports first rabid pet dog in over a decade — Texas recorded its first case of rabies in a pet dog in more than a decade. The state also reported 22 cases of rabies in wild animals in San Antonio and Bexar County.

  5. background

    Mobile petting zoo in North Carolina exposes nearly 300 to rabid goats — A petting zoo made at least 10 visits between July 28 and August 27, visiting assisted living centers and back-to-school events. North Carolina health officials traced and recommended post-exposure prophylaxis to 213 people who may have handled infected baby goats.

  6. background

    Rabies exposures surge across multiple states — From July through August, the CDC received 17% more rabies-related inquiries than in the same period in 2025. Multiple states reported local increases in human rabies exposures, including cases in pets and wildlife.