CDC: Wildlife Rabies Cases Rose 5% in 2023, Officials Warn of Growing Public Health Risk

Federal surveillance data show an uptick in rabies among wild animals across the United States, prompting public health officials to warn of a growing risk to people and pets.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Rabies Surveillance System reported that wildlife rabies cases rose 5% in 2023 compared with the prior year. The agency estimates roughly three-quarters of Americans live in areas where they may be exposed to the species that most commonly transmit rabies to humans — raccoons, skunks and foxes. The CDC said it is tracking 15 discrete rabies outbreak events, while acknowledging many other local or state-managed outbreaks are not reflected in the central tally.

Local health departments have reported sharp increases in some jurisdictions. Nassau County, New York, declared an imminent public health alert this summer after confirming 22 rabies-positive animals so far this year, compared with six in the same period last year. A CDC spokesperson, Paul Prince, told Fox News Digital that the agency’s rabies program is monitoring outbreak events but that many responses occur at the state and local level.

Rabies is a viral infection that is almost always fatal once clinical symptoms develop, but it is preventable when recognized and treated promptly. The CDC and state health agencies recommend that people avoid contact with wild animals and ensure pets and livestock are kept up to date on rabies vaccinations. Health officials advise immediate medical evaluation for anyone bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal; timely administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent onset of disease.

Human rabies cases are rare in the United States because of routine domestic animal vaccination and availability of PEP, but occasional infections still occur and draw public attention. Media reports have noted a rare fatal case in which an organ transplant recipient died of rabies after surgery; such incidents underscore both the rarity and the severity of human rabies when prevention fails or exposure goes unrecognized.

Public health experts say the recent rise in wildlife infections likely reflects a mix of ecological and surveillance factors, including changes in wildlife populations and behavior, and variations in reporting and testing. Local responses to outbreaks typically include increased testing of animals, targeted public education campaigns, urging pet vaccination, and advising residents to avoid feeding or handling wildlife.

Officials stress that community-level measures and individual precautions can reduce the risk of rabies transmission. Maintaining up-to-date vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets, supervising pets outdoors, and securing trash and pet food to avoid attracting wild animals are commonly recommended steps. Those who encounter animals acting strangely — appearing unusually tame, disoriented, aggressive or lacking fear of people — are urged to report them to local animal control or public health authorities rather than attempting to capture or feed the animals.

Surveillance and timely reporting remain central to controlling rabies. The CDC’s national system compiles data from state and local laboratories to track trends and guide prevention efforts, but the agency and local health departments caution that on-the-ground conditions can change quickly and that residents should follow guidance from their local public health officials.