CDC issues alert about nationwide increase in rabies exposures

The CDC has issued a health advisory regarding a nationwide increase in rabies exposures and reports of mass exposure events. Health officials are emphasizing the importance of proper risk assessment and post-exposure prophylaxis.
Why it matters
Public health alert concerning a fatal, preventable disease, highlighting the need for awareness regarding animal contact.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning that exposure to rabies appears to be on the rise across the country. From July through August, the agency received 17% more rabies-related inquiries than in the same time period last year, including reports of mass exposure events, according to an official CDC health advisory published Thursday. Related video above | Maryland officials caution amid string of rabid animal incidents During that time, the CDC said, it also received reports from at least eight state health departments about an increase in administering post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) care for rabies, PEP administration errors or both.
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