A spike in rabies cases among animals this summer has led to a rise in human exposures across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Thursday. In a new health advisory, the CDC urged doctors to be on the lookout for possible exposures and to administer vaccines and treatm…
A spike in rabies cases among animals this summer has led to a rise in human exposures across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Thursday. In a new health advisory, the CDC urged doctors to be on the lookout for possible exposures and to administer vaccines and treatments as needed. The agency also warned the public to avoid contact with wildlife and sick mammals, and to seek medical care if someone is bitten or scratched. Rabies is a rare but potentially fatal viral disease that must be treated before symptoms start. It spreads primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. Wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes are the most common carriers in the U.S. The CDC's warning comes less than two weeks after North Carolina officials announced that three baby goats at a mobile petting zoo had tested positive for rabies, potentially exposing hundreds of people. The state health department launched a search to track down anyone who came into contact with the goats, saying Tuesday that rabies shots had been recommended for more than 260 people. "Several high-profile rabies outbreaks and mass rabies exposure events have highlighted the importance of performing careful rabies risk assessments and following evidence-based recommendations for administering PEP [post-exposure prophylaxis]," the agency said. That post-exposure treatment typically includes a dose of an antibody medication that prevents infection, called human rabies immune globulin, and at least four doses of a rabies vaccine. The regimen is nearly 100% effective if administered quickly after exposure, according to the CDC. Not getting the shots before symptoms begin — typically, within weeks to months of an exposure — can lead to severe brain disease and death. More than 6 million people in the U.S. report animal bites each year, and around 100,000 are treated for rabies exposure. But fewer than 10 people in the U.S. die from rabies annually. Rabies exposures typically peak in the summer, since people tend to spend more time outdoors, which increases their odds of encountering wildlife.
CDC warns of a summer spike in rabies exposures
that is free of rabies. In its health alert, the CDC warned the public to keep a distance from wildlife and to never approach animals that appear sick or injured. In such cases, contact local animal control, the agency said. "If you have pets, keep them up to date on rabies vaccines and away from wildlife when possible," the CDC said in the alert. The agency also advises people to wash any bites or scratches right away with soap and water.
"My fear is that if he was feeding the goats, and he's 4. Who's to say that he didn't touch his mouth or eyes?" Lanning said. "I don't want to bury my child."
