CDC Statement on Increases in Recent Animal Rabies Activity and Associated Human Exposures

The CDC issued a new Health Alert Network (HAN) health advisory highlighting increases in recent animal rabies activity and associated human exposures across the United States.

Reports of animal exposures and rabies post-exposure vaccinations have increased during summer 2026, prompting CDC to urge clinicians and health departments to conduct careful, evidence-based risk assessments.

People who are bitten, scratched, or otherwise potentially exposed to a rabid animal should promptly seek medical guidance, as rabies is preventable when appropriate treatment begins before symptoms develop. Immunocompromised people may require additional vaccination and laboratory testing to confirm an adequate immune response. Read CDC’s statement here.