CDC and states issue rabies alerts as cases rise nationwide
The Rhode Island Department of Health issued a health advisory after a bat was observed in the water play area of Roger Williams Park Zoo, deeming the animal low risk for human exposure and urging anyone who may have contacted it to seek medical assessment. The advisory came amid a broader surge in rabies activity nationwide.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this summer warned doctors and the public about a rise in rabies cases and a 17 % increase in related inquiries, urging prompt post-exposure prophylaxis and vaccination of pets. Health departments in Idaho, Texas, North Carolina, Florida and other states have also issued warnings after confirming rabies in bats, foxes, raccoons, goats and a pet dog, and officials in Bismarck, North Dakota, cautioned residents to keep pets up-to-date after two rabid bats were found nearby.