Amid new CDC advisory, AVMA details recent rabies exposure incidents, reiterates vaccination policy

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) detailed several recent rabies exposure incidents involving a variety of animal species and reiterated its existing rabies policy, following a September 10 Health Alert Network advisory from the CDC on a nationwide increase in reported human rabies exposures and errors in rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administration.^1,2

From July through August 2026, the CDC received 17% more rabies-related inquiries than during the same period in 2025, and local health departments reported increases in human rabies exposures, including from animals in which rabies is uncommon. At least 8 state health departments reported increased rabies PEP use, PEP administration errors, or both over the past 3 months.²

RELATED: CDC reports increase in rabies exposures and PEP use in multiple US jurisdictions

AVMA News highlighted several such incidents. In North Carolina, health officials investigated an outbreak linked to a traveling petting zoo where visitors were exposed to rabies-positive baby goats; more than 260 people were subsequently advised to receive PEP as a result. Other cases identified since July include 2 rabid-beaver attacks at a Maryland state park, a New Jersey man bitten on the leg by a rabid raccoon, and an incident in New Hampshire in which an animal believed to be either a gray fox or a fisher attacked 3 people.¹

As of September 2, use of the 2 rabies vaccines and 2 human rabies immune globulin products licensed in the United States had increased by an estimated 33% and 76%, respectively, compared with the same period last year.² AVMA News noted that a typical PEP course can cost up to $14,000 per person.¹

Annually, an estimated 1.4 million people in the US seek medical care after suspected contact with a rabid animal, and about 100,000 receive PEP.² Fewer than 10 human rabies deaths are reported in the US each year, and in 2024, there were 3,834 reported cases of rabies among animals nationwide, according to AVMA News.¹

AVMA policy underscores vaccination

AVMA News reiterated the association's existing policy on rabies, which states, in part: "Rabies is an almost invariably fatal disease for animals and humans. AVMA endorses the 2016 Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, developed by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians. Vaccination of animals is a critical step in preventing infection and protecting public health."¹

References

1. CDC: Rabies exposures have increased, including from variety of species. AVMA News. American Veterinary Medical Association. Published September 11, 2026. Accessed September 15, 2026. https://www.avma.org/news/cdc-rabies-exposures-have-increased-including-variety-species
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationwide increase in reported human rabies exposures: rabies post-exposure prophylaxis administration. Health Alert Network. Published September 10, 2026. Accessed September 15, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00533.html