Expert Say Risk of Rabies Could Be Rising

Key Points:

• Recent rabies outbreaks in the US, including rabid beavers in Maryland and New Jersey and infected goats in North Carolina, have prompted a CDC advisory warning of increased need for rabies shots after risky animal encounters, though no human cases have been confirmed in 2026.
• Experts note that the apparent rise in rabies cases may be influenced by increased testing and awareness, with Ohio reporting more bats tested but no increase in the percentage testing positive.
• Rabies remains a persistent threat in wildlife across the US, with different animals such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes carrying variants, and bats causing the majority of human rabies deaths domestically.
• Factors contributing to potential increased rabies risk include vaccine skepticism, climate change impacts on animal populations, and human encroachment into wildlife habitats, leading to more frequent human-wildlife encounters.
• The CDC's rabies response has been impacted by staff cuts, resulting in suspended rabies testing earlier in 2026, though testing resumed in August, highlighting resource challenges in managing the disease.