Rabies on the rise across US
The CDC has issued a warning regarding an increase in rabies exposure across the United States, citing a rise in inquiries and mass exposure events. Health officials are emphasizing the importance of timely post-exposure prophylaxis for those bitten or scratched by potentially infected animals.
Why it matters
Rabies is a nearly 100% fatal disease, making public awareness and proper medical intervention critical for preventing human deaths.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning that exposure to rabies appears to be on the rise across the country.
From July through August, the agency received 17 percent 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.
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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