CDC warns of a summer spike in rabies exposures

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned Thursday that a spike in animal rabies cases this summer has led to an increase in human exposures nationwide. In a new health advisory, the CDC urged doctors to look out for potential exposures and administer vaccines and treatments as needed. The agency also advised the public to avoid contact with wildlife and sick mammals, and to seek medical care if bitten or scratched.

Rabies is a rare but potentially fatal viral disease that must be treated before symptoms start, spreading primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. Wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes are the most common carriers in the U.S. The CDC's warning came less than two weeks after North Carolina officials announced that three baby goats at a mobile petting zoo tested positive for rabies, potentially exposing hundreds of people.

From July through August, the CDC reported receiving 17% more rabies-related inquiries than during the same period last year, along with reports from at least eight state health departments regarding increased use of rabies shots or errors in administering post-exposure treatments. More than 6 million people in the U.S. report animal bites each year and about 100,000 are treated for rabies exposure, while fewer than 10 people die from rabies annually.

Rabies exposures typically peak in the summer because people spend more time outdoors. In the health alert, the CDC reminded the public to keep a distance from wildlife, keep pets up to date on rabies vaccines, and immediately wash any bites or scratches with soap and water.