Photo: Jeff Kingma / iStock / Getty Images
Rabies cases in wild animals are rising across the United States, posing a significant public health threat, according to experts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that around 75% of Americans are exposed to wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes, which are common carriers of rabies. The CDC's National Rabies Surveillance System noted a 5% increase in wildlife rabies cases in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Paul Prince, a CDC spokesperson, told Fox News that the CDC is currently tracking 15 rabies outbreak events. Although human rabies cases remain rare, with fewer than 10 deaths annually, the disease is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear. Rabies symptoms can take weeks or months to develop, but severe symptoms often manifest within two weeks of onset, leading to confusion, agitation, and hallucinations.
The CDC emphasizes the importance of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for anyone potentially exposed to rabies. PEP involves wound care, human rabies immune globulin, and a series of rabies vaccines. This treatment is nearly 100% effective if administered promptly.
Efforts to control rabies in wildlife include distributing millions of oral vaccine baits annually. Despite these measures, the CDC reports that rabies remains a serious concern due to its prevalence in wildlife across the country, except Hawaii.
In Nassau County, New York, a public health alert was declared after a significant increase in rabies cases. Alyssa Zohrabian from the Nassau County Department of Health told Fox News that these cases reflect a resurgence of terrestrial rabies, previously eliminated in the area.
The CDC continues to work with over 50 organizations to manage rabies in wildlife, aiming to prevent human exposure and maintain public health safety.