The CDC warns against the increase in rabies epidemic events in wild animals nationwide

More wild animals are infected with rabies, which represents a threat of public health, warn the officials.

About 75% of Americans are exposed to raccoons, skuffs and foxes – the same fauna that generally spreads deadly humans, according to the centers for disease control and prevention.

The latest report in the national CDC rabies monitoring, which monitors rabies in the United States, found that wildlife cases increased by 5% in 2023 in the previous year.

Organ transplant dies of rabies after surgery

“Currently, the CDC Rage program follows 15 rabies epidemic events,” said Paul Prince, a CDC spokesman for Fox News Digital. “There are probably many more rabies epidemics in the United States, but they are managed at the local or state.”

The county of Nassau in New York said an imminent public health alert this summer after confirming 22 cases this year, against six last year – an increase of more than three times.

Water animals are infected with rabies, which represents a threat of public health, warn the officials. (istock)

“These cases reflect a disturbing resurgence of the terrestrial rage, which had been successfully eliminated from the county of Nassau after 2016 thanks to coordinated intervention efforts,” Fox News Digital Alyssa Zohrabian, director of the County County Communication Office, told Fox News.

What is rage?

Rage is a virus This is transmitted to humans by a bite or scratch of a rabid animal, according to the CDC.

He can sometimes take weeks or months to reach a diagnosis, because infection only causes symptoms after his trip brain and spinal cord.

A parasitic disease “silent killer” spreading in several American states, warn the experts

A serious illness, however, often presents itself within two weeks of the disease, causing confusion, agitation and hallucinations, the source above.

People may initially have the impression of having the flu, complaining of fever, headache or weakness. Another clue is pain or numbness on the site of the bite.

“Recent cases probably do not indicate a national epidemic of human rage, but a recall that rage is still a threat of public health.”

The “classic rage” means that someone is very thirsty, while paradoxically feeling a feeling of panic at the sight of fluids. Someone can also produce a lot of saliva and have aggressive behavior.

The rage is almost always fatal after the symptoms – but it is also almost 100% avoidable.

About 75% of Americans are exposed to ratwashers, skuffs and foxes, which generally spread rabies to humans. (istock)

After exposure to rage, people should request immediate preventive medical care, known as post-exposure prophylaxis, which consists in thoroughly cleaning the wound and receiving a vaccination against rabies.

People can also receive neutralizing antibodies to combat infection, advise experts.

Why do wildlife increases?

“The CDC, at least in part, attributes this to the human translocation of animals in areas where rabies had not been or was very low,” Dr Edward R. Rennsimer, specialist in infectious diseases with rabies prevention, told Fox News.

“This has caused an increase in certain states in the distribution of funds for the placement of the vaccine bait of rabies for fauna,” added Rennsimer, who is also director of the International Medicine Center in Houston, Texas.

Case of parasite eater of flesh detected in American traveler who returning from Central America

The Nassau County Ministry of Health launched the first phase of its Oral Rage Vaccine Program for the fall of 2024, with a second round in the spring and a third scheduled for this fall.

“When there are animal control cuts and prevention of rabies, invariably that can lead to increased rabies in wild animals, with cases of tragic potential (for) in humans,” said Aaron Glatt, head of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital, New York, Fox News Digital.

After exposure to rage, people should request immediate preventive medical care, known as post-exposure prophylaxis, which consists in thoroughly cleaning the wound and receiving a vaccination against rabies. (istock)

“Fortunately, there is only one handful of Case of human rage Reported each year, and there is an effective vaccine that can be given to patients after an animal bite at risk. “”

Six people died of rage in the United States in the past year, with two of these deaths in 2025, the CDC spokesman for Fox News Digital told.

“Recent cases probably do not indicate a national epidemic of human rage, but a recall that rage is still a threat of public health in the United States and abroad,” he added.

Which animals get rage?

According to the CDC.

Click here to obtain the Fox News app

Depending on where they live, the Americans are also risking exposure to other wild animals.

“There are more than 30 different rabies viruses in the United States, all associated with wildlife,” the CDC spokesman for Fox News Digital told. “Each of these viral variants has a single animal species and a geographical range, and can have its own specific epidemics.”

Only a small percentage of rabies in the United States affects domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, according to experts – but it is not outside the field of the possibility. (istock)

Those who live in the east of the United States have some of the highest risks to be exposed to the rabies of raccoons in the region.

Mussels have a high risk of rage in the Midwest and the West of the United States, and the foxes have a danger for people who live in the southwest part of the country as well as Alaska, according to the CDC.

Click here to register for our Health Newsletter

The rage in the skuffs increased in Kentucky in 2024 to 2025, and there have been epidemics of rabies among the foxes in Arizona and California in 2023, added Rennsimer.

Rage is present in fauna in all states except Hawaii, according to the spokesperson for the CDC.

Can pets get rage?

Only a small percentage of rabies in the United States affect domestic animalsLike dogs and cats, according to experts – but it is not outside the field of possibility.

“Pets that remain mainly inside a house may seem to be at low risk to get rabies, but rabid fauna can enter our homes and backgrounds even if we do not see them,” warned the spokesperson for the CDC.

“The best way to avoid rabies is to stay away from wildlife.”

“Our animals are more likely than we interact with fauna, and they are often unable to tell us when they were exposed.”

A wandering puppy and two wandering cats have been tested positive for rage in Philadelphia this year, Fox News Digital James Garrow, communications director of Philadelphia Department of Public Health told Fox News.

For more health items, visit www.foxnews.com/health

It is important to keep animals up to date on vaccinations – both to protect their health and to prevent the transmission of humans, experts are suitable.

The County Ministry of Health of Nassau, in partnership with the City of Oyster Bay, offers free rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets to all residents of the county on Saturday September 13.

“The best way to avoid rabies is to stay away from wildlife,” said Grett.