Rabies Warning Issued in Multiple States as Local Cases Rise

Key Points:

• Health officials across multiple U.S. states have issued rabies warnings after detecting infected bats, raccoons, foxes, goats, and a pet dog, with notable spikes in Idaho and Texas this year. Idaho has reported 24 rabid bats so far, while San Antonio and Bexar County recorded 22 cases in wild animals during June and July, including the first rabid pet dog in over a decade.
• In North Carolina, officials are investigating potential human exposures linked to rabid baby goats from a mobile petting zoo, which appeared at events across seven counties. Florida’s Brevard County issued a 60-day rabies alert after a raccoon tested positive, urging residents to avoid contact with wild animals and keep pets vaccinated and supervised.
• Alabama confirmed a rabid fox in Autauga County and a rabid raccoon in Montgomery, prompting public health advisories emphasizing pet vaccination and caution around wild animals. Similarly, Maryland counties reported multiple rabid animals, including raccoons and bats, with officials advising residents to report any contact.
• Michigan and California also reported rabid bats, with Michigan documenting 48 infected animals this year and Yosemite National Park confirming a rabid bat found near Curry Village. Authorities recommend avoiding direct contact with bats and seeking medical advice if exposure occurs.
• Health departments stress that rabies spreads through bites, scratches, or saliva contact with broken skin or mucous membranes, is rare but fatal if untreated, and advise the public to avoid handling wild animals, keep pets vaccinated, and report any suspicious animal behavior or exposures promptly.