CDC alerts rise in rabies exposures and post-exposure treatment use
The CDC reports a 17% increase in rabies-related inquiries and a surge in post-exposure prophylaxis administration across multiple states during July-August, highlighting the need for careful risk assessment.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said inquiries about rabies rose 17% in July-August compared with the same period last year, and several state health departments reported higher use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and related errors. The agency’s health advisory noted a recent mass-exposure incident in North Carolina, where a mobile petting zoo with infected baby goats led to 213 people being advised to receive PEP.
"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," the CDC warned.
The advisory emphasized that rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear but can be prevented when PEP is administered promptly and correctly. About 100,000 Americans receive PEP each year; the current year has seen a 33% rise in vaccine use and a 76% increase in immunoglobulin use, according to pharmacy data.
"Although there is currently no shortage of human rabies vaccine or human rabies immunoglobulin in the United States, it is important for clinicians to administer PEP appropriately because errors in rabies risk assessment and PEP administration could result in unnecessary treatment, potential adverse effects, and avoidable costs," the CDC said.
The agency noted that a typical PEP course can cost between $11,000 and $14,000 per person and urged clinicians to follow evidence-based guidelines to preserve supplies and limit expenses. It also reminded the public to wash any bite or scratch wounds thoroughly, consult health professionals about exposure risk, and, when possible, secure the animal for testing or contact local animal-control authorities.
Rabies remains primarily a wildlife-borne disease in the United States, with bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes accounting for most animal cases. While domestic dogs cause the majority of human rabies deaths worldwide, they are rare vectors in the U.S. due to ongoing vaccination and control programs.