WASHINGTON, DC — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned doctors, state health departments and the public about a recent rise in human exposure to rabid or possibly rabid animals across the United States. In a Health Alert Network advisory issued Sept. 10, 2026, the agency said reported inquiries tied to rabies climbed 17% from July through August this year compared with the same period in 2025.
The CDC said at least eight state health departments have also reported increases in post-exposure prophylaxis use, treatment mistakes, or both. Health officials are paying close attention because rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, even though infection can be prevented if treatment is given correctly and in time.
Rabies medicine use climbs as officials monitor supply and errors
Alongside the increase in inquiries, pharmacy data through Sept. 2 showed an estimated 33% rise in rabies vaccine use and a 76% jump in rabies immune globulin use compared with the same period last year. The CDC said there is no current shortage of either product, but it stressed that the medicines must be used properly.
Post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, is the treatment given after a possible rabies exposure. The agency warned that the higher volume of use is being matched by more mistakes, which can leave patients either underprotected or exposed to unnecessary treatment. That makes careful assessment after a bite or scratch especially important.
Seven warning signs and situations that should raise concern
Rabies spreads through bites, scratches or oral secretions from an infected animal. The CDC says people should be cautious around animals that behave strangely or look sick, and it urges anyone who sees a suspicious animal not to touch or chase it.
The agency also advises the public to avoid animals that are unusually active, disoriented, aggressive, weak, unable to move normally or otherwise acting out of character. Sick, injured or dead wildlife should never be handled. Instead, local animal control or public health officials should be contacted so trained responders can manage the situation safely.
Do not try to handle a suspicious animal
The CDC’s message is direct: distance is safer than contact. An animal that appears ill, injured or abnormally active should be left alone, even if it seems tame or approachable. People should not try to rescue or capture it themselves.
If a pet or wild animal is acting strangely, the safest step is to notify animal control or another local authority. That reduces the chance of a bite or scratch and helps officials determine whether rabies testing or quarantine is needed.
What to do right away after a possible rabies exposure
When a bite, scratch or other exposure happens, the first step is to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes. If soap is not available, water alone should still be used right away. The CDC also recommends, when possible, irrigating the wound with a virucidal agent such as povidone-iodine.
After cleaning the wound, a clinician or public health professional should be contacted as soon as possible. They can assess the animal, the type of contact and the exposure circumstances to decide whether PEP is needed. Quick action matters, because rabies treatment is designed to work before symptoms begin.
Not every encounter needs treatment, CDC says
The CDC emphasized that not every animal encounter requires rabies treatment. PEP is generally not recommended if the animal is available for a 10-day observation period, if testing comes back negative, or if public health officials decide the exposure does not pose a rabies risk.
That risk review can help avoid unnecessary shots, reduce costs and spare patients from possible side effects. At the same time, it protects people who truly need treatment from dangerous delays. The agency’s advice is to get the exposure evaluated promptly rather than guessing.
How PEP is given and the costly mistakes officials are seeing
For people who have never been vaccinated against rabies, PEP includes human rabies immune globulin, or HRIG, along with a rabies vaccine series. HRIG is given once at the start of treatment, and vaccine doses are typically administered on days 0, 3, 7 and 14.
People who were previously vaccinated generally receive vaccine on days 0 and 3 and should not get HRIG. The CDC said errors being reported include giving vaccine in the buttock, not placing HRIG into and around wounds when possible, giving HRIG and vaccine at the same site, giving HRIG to someone already vaccinated, and using the wrong schedule. A full PEP course can cost $11,000 to $14,000 per person.
