CDC reports rise in rabies cases and urges pet vaccination across multiple states
Health officials say rabies infections have been confirmed in several states, prompting a reminder for pet owners to keep vaccinations up to date as human inquiries about the disease rise.
Health officials are warning pet owners to ensure their animals are vaccinated against rabies after new cases were confirmed in several states, including a dog that tested positive in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. The dog was euthanized and testing of other dogs in the household is pending. Texas also reported its first pet dog case in more than a decade.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said inquiries about rabies exposure rose 17 percent in July and August compared with the same period last year, and use of rabies vaccines increased 33 percent while rabies immunoglobulin use rose 76 percent.
State health agencies have documented rabies activity in a range of wildlife and domestic animals. Idaho reported 24 rabid bats, the highest in three years, and Texas recorded 22 cases in wild animals near San Antonio. Other confirmed incidents include a rabid raccoon in Suffolk, Virginia; rabid cats and skunks in Elmira, New York; rabid bats and goats linked to a mobile petting zoo in North Carolina; a rabid bat in Yosemite National Park, California; and additional cases in Alabama, Florida, Maryland, Michigan and other locations.
The Mayo Clinic notes that bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and skunks are the species most likely to transmit rabies in the United States. The virus spreads through bites, scratches, or contact of infected saliva with broken skin, eyes, nose or mouth. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.
Veterinary and animal-care organizations in Louisiana have posted reminders on social media urging owners to verify that dogs, cats and ferrets over three months old are vaccinated, as state law requires. The American Veterinary Medical Association also advised pet owners to check vaccination records.
Officials recommend that anyone bitten or scratched by an animal, or who suspects exposure, seek medical attention promptly. They also advise keeping pets supervised outdoors and discouraging contact with wildlife.