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‘Nearly 100% fatal’ disease on the rise across US. See risks in Washington state
yahoo.com • • health
Key Points:
- The CDC has issued a nationwide health alert due to a sharp increase in rabies exposures across the U.S., with Washington state reporting multiple rabid bats in nearly a dozen counties in 2026.
- Rabies is a nearly 100% fatal viral disease affecting the central nervous system, preventable only if exposed individuals receive timely post-exposure vaccination before symptoms appear.
- Washington state has recorded only two fatal human rabies cases in the past 75 years, both linked to bats, and no human cases in 2026, though 20 rabid bats have tested positive across 11 counties this year.
- Early rabies symptoms resemble the flu, progressing to severe neurological signs; immediate medical attention and administration of rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin after potential exposure are critical.
- To prevent rabies, the CDC advises avoiding contact with wild animals, especially bats, and ensuring pets are vaccinated; anyone bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal should promptly seek healthcare guidance.
