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Rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms develop, is showing an alarming resurgence in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the last 12 months, six deaths from rabies have been reported in the country, the highest number in several years.
The resurgence is concerning health authorities, who warn of a dual phenomenon: the increasing urban encroachment on natural habitats and the decline in pet vaccination rates due to misinformation.
What is rabies and how does it act?
Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system.
Once clinical symptoms appear - which can take anywhere from a week to a year to manifest - the outcome is almost always fatal.
The first signs often resemble the flu: fever, headache, fatigue.
Afterward, the disease progresses to confusion, paralysis, excessive salivation, hallucinations, and difficulty swallowing, ultimately leading to death within a matter of weeks.
Every year, 1.4 million people in the U.S. are evaluated for possible exposure to the virus, and around 100,000 receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a treatment that combines immunoglobulin with a series of vaccines that, if administered on time, are nearly 100% effective.
An ancient virus, a renewed threat
Dr. Ryan Wallace, leader of the rabies team at the CDC, confirmed that they are tracking 15 different possible active transmission hotspots in states such as New York, Massachusetts, Alaska, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, and Vermont.
In Nassau County, New York, a public health alert was even issued in July due to the detection of rabid animals.
The reports range from raccoons in Long Island to gray foxes in Arizona and skunks in Kentucky.
In all states of the country, except Hawaii, cases have been documented in wild animals, with bats being the main source of transmission to humans.
Surveillance has intensified, which accounts for part of the increase in diagnoses, but experts like Wallace warn that the real trend points to a significant surge.
“It won’t be until the end of the year that we will have certainty that these numbers represent an annual increase, but now, in the midst of the rabies season, it does seem that activity has increased,” they indicate.
When anger knocks on the door of home
One of the most recent cases is that of 22-year-old Samantha Lang from Greenwood, Indiana, who in July awoke with a strange mark on her arm.
Hours later, she discovered a bat hanging from the grille of her air conditioner. The local health department urged her to get rabies prophylaxis.
"I would never have thought it was something I needed to worry about," Lang confessed after starting preventive treatment.
Stories like hers reveal that exposure can be much more common than people imagine.
A common mistake, according to the CDC, is underestimating contact with bats, as their bites or scratches are so small that they can go unnoticed.
Last December, a teacher in California died a month after removing a bat from her classroom, unknowingly infected.
Florida: A state on alert
Although the national reports do not mention it among the recent outbreaks, Florida is experiencing its own reality regarding rabies in animals.
According to data from the state Department of Health, between January 1 and June 30, 2025, 56 cases of rabies in animals were confirmed.
The most affected species were raccoons (22), bats (17), foxes (6), and cats (5), along with reports of skunks, a horse, a coyote, and even a deer.
At the end of August this year, the authorities in Charlotte County confirmed a case involving a raccoon found near Washington Loop Road and Duncan Road.
The discovery led to an enhancement of warnings to the public: keep pets vaccinated, avoid any interaction with wildlife, and report bites or scratches immediately.
By 2024, 110 confirmed cases of animal rabies had already been reported statewide, with a persistent pattern of risk among raccoons, bats, and unvaccinated cats.
While there have been no recent documented human deaths from rabies in Florida, the threat remains present: unvaccinated outdoor pets are a critical link in the transmission chain.
Florida, with its high density of wildlife and expanding urban areas, remains a high-risk territory where prevention is key.
The role of urban growth
In North Carolina, Franklin County doubled the confirmed cases of rabies in wildlife over the past year.
Its health director, Scott LaVigne, attributes it to population growth: “The county's population has increased by 35% since 2010, and those people need to live somewhere. That's why we are seeing a rise in urbanization and housing construction.”
Animals, displaced from their habitats, end up in closer contact with humans and pets.
LaVigne describes a telling case: a family found a raccoon that seemed docile and sick. They petted it for hours until it died.
The subsequent analysis confirmed rabies, forcing the entire family to get vaccinated. "My God! They would never have found out if they hadn't called animal services," he acknowledged.
The shadow of misinformation about vaccines
Beyond wildlife, veterinarians are warning of a parallel risk: a decline in vaccinations for dogs and cats.
A study published in the journal Vaccine in 2023 found that nearly 40% of respondents believed that dog vaccines were dangerous, and 37% incorrectly thought that they could cause autism in dogs.
Veterinarian Gabriella Motta from Pennsylvania warns, “If we continue to see a drop in vaccination rates or greater reluctance to vaccinate, will we see cases of rabies in more pets, and not just in wild animals? We are starting to raise the alarm.”
How to protect yourself
The CDC insists that rabies remains uncommon in humans in the United States, with fewer than 10 deaths per year due to decades of prevention.
However, three out of four Americans live in communities where wildlife carries the disease.
The main prevention measures include:
Vaccinate all pets and keep their vaccination schedule up to date.
Avoid contact with wild animals, even if they seem tame or friendly.
-Wash any wound caused by an animal bite or scratch immediately with water and soap.
-Seek emergency medical attention in case of possible exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Resurgence of Rabies in the U.S.
Why is the number of rabies cases increasing in the U.S.?
The increase in rabies cases in the U.S. is primarily due to two factors: the urban invasion of natural habitats and the decline in pet vaccination rates. Urbanization is leading to greater contact between humans and wild animals, while misinformation has caused a drop in pet vaccinations, raising the risk of virus transmission.
What are the symptoms of rabies and how does the disease progress?
Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system and its initial symptoms are similar to those of the flu, such as fever, headache, and fatigue. As the disease progresses, it can cause confusion, paralysis, excessive salivation, hallucinations, and difficulty swallowing, potentially leading to death if not treated in time.
How can rabies be prevented in humans and pets?
To prevent rabies, it is essential to vaccinate all pets and keep their vaccination schedule up to date. Additionally, contact with wild animals should be avoided, any wounds caused by bites or scratches from an animal should be washed immediately with soap and water, and urgent medical attention should be sought in case of possible exposure.
Which regions of the U.S. are most affected by the resurgence of rabies?
The CDC is tracking active rabies outbreaks in states such as New York, Massachusetts, Alaska, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, and Vermont. In Nassau County, New York, a public health alert was issued due to the presence of rabid animals, and Florida is also experiencing its own situation with multiple cases of rabies in animals.
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