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Rabies warning issued in multiple states as local cases rise
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Multiple states including Idaho, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Maryland, Michigan, and California have issued rabies warnings this year following detection of infected bats, raccoons, foxes, goats, and a pet dog, raising concerns about human and pet exposure.
- Idaho reported a significant increase in rabid bats with 24 cases so far this year, and San Antonio, Texas experienced 22 rabies cases in wild animals during June and July, including the first infected pet dog in over a decade.
- North Carolina is investigating potential exposures linked to rabid baby goats from a mobile petting zoo, while Florida issued a 60-day rabies alert in part of Brevard County after a raccoon tested positive.
- Rabid animals such as a fox in Alabama, bats in Maryland and Michigan, and a bat found near Yosemite National Park in California have prompted local health advisories urging residents to avoid contact with wild animals and ensure pets are vaccinated.
- Health officials emphasize that rabies spreads through bites or saliva contact with broken skin and is fatal without treatment before symptoms appear, recommending immediate reporting of animal encounters and prompt medical care if exposure is suspected.
