Nationwide Increase in Reported Human Rabies Exposures: Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis Administration
Reviewed and published by MPB Safety Desk
What parents need to know
This CDC health advisory responds to recent reports of increases in human exposures to rabid or possibly rabid animals, and to errors in how rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is being given. Since July 2026, multiple U.S. jurisdictions have reported local increases in human rabies exposures. From July through August 2026, CDC received 17% more rabies-related inquiries than during the same period in 2025, and at least eight state health departments reported increased PEP use, PEP administration errors, or both. The advisory is addressed mainly to clinicians and health departments, and it also includes recommendations for the public.
According to the advisory, rabies is nearly 100% fatal, but it is preventable when PEP is given appropriately before symptoms start. An infected animal can spread rabies to people through bites, scratches, or oral secretions. For families, this means acting soon after a possible exposure rather than waiting to see whether symptoms appear.
CDC's recommendations for the public: keep your distance from wildlife, and never approach animals that appear injured, sick, or dead, especially animals seen during the day that are usually active at night, such as bats and raccoons. Keep pets up to date on rabies vaccines and away from wildlife when possible. If you, your child, or your pets have been in contact with wildlife or a sick-acting animal, particularly after a bite or scratch, wash any wounds immediately with water and soap (or water alone) for 15 minutes, then talk with a clinician or public health professional about the risk and whether rabies-related care is needed. Tell the doctor what type of animal it was and whether it was acting abnormally. If the animal was not your pet, ask the owner for proof that it is up to date on its rabies vaccination.
CDC notes that there is currently no shortage of human rabies vaccine or human rabies immune globulin in the United States. The full advisory, including CDC's guidance for clinicians on assessing exposures and giving PEP, is in the official notice.
Recall details
From the official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention record
- Recall number
- #HAN00533
- Recall date
- From the official alert
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory in response to recent reports of increases in human exposures to rabid or possibly rabid animals and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administration errors. Since July 2026, multiple United States jurisdictions have reported local increases in human rabies exposures involving known rabies vectors or animals in which rabies is less commonly reported. Several high-profile rabies outbreaks and mass rabies exposure events have highlighted the importance of performing careful rabies risk assessments and following evidence-based recommendations for administering PEP. Health departments can help clinicians who provide rabies vaccination in their jurisdictions stay aware of the importance of rabies risk assessments before administering PEP. Clinicians and healthcare facilities can work to make sure that PEP is administered only when appropriate and that human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and rabies vaccines are administered according to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations.
Recommendations for the Public:
Keep your distance from wildlife. Never approach animals who appear to be injured, sick, or dead, especially if you see animals during the day who are usually active at night (e.g., bats, raccoons, etc.). Contact your area’s animal control service for assistance when needed.
If you have pets, keep them up to date on rabies vaccines and away from wildlife when possible.
If you or your pets have been in contact with any wildlife or sick-acting animals, particularly if you've been bitten or scratched, do the following:
Wash any wounds immediately with water and soap (or water alone) for 15 minutes.
Talk with a clinician or public health professional about your risk and if you might need rabies-related care.
Tell your doctor about the type of animal you encountered and if you noted any signs that the animal was not acting normally.
If the animal that bit you was not your pet, ask the owner for proof that the animal is up to date on their rabies vaccination.
If you can do so safely, capture or confine the animal and contact your area’s animal control service or your health department for assistance.
In some circumstances and in consultation with a veterinarian, observing an available animal might be a reasonable alternative to rabies testing.
Recall details are summarized from official government sources and reviewed by our editors before publishing. Information can change after publication. Always confirm the current status, affected models, and remedy instructions in the official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notice before acting.
Our Safety Desk posts selected child product recalls on X. Follow @myparentingbook