Reports of people exposed to rabid or possibly rabid animals are rising across the country, and health officials say it's important that Massachusetts residents know what to do after a bite or scratch to prevent a nearly always fatal disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a Sept. 10 health advisory that it received 17 percent more rabies-related inquiries in July and August compared with the same time last year. At least eight state health departments also reported increased use of preventive treatment, errors in administering it, or both.
The agency did not name the eight states. Rabies remains present in Massachusetts, where more than 100 rabid animals are typically found each year, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The animals most commonly found carrying the disease in the state are raccoons, skunks and bats, although other wild animals, pets and farm animals can also become infected. A total of 111 animals tested positive for rabies in Massachusetts in 2024, according to state data. DPH has also published its annual surveillance report for 2025.
Animal bites and other potential rabies exposures should be reported to the local municipal animal inspector, while residents can contact the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800 for questions involving potential human exposure. Residents who encounter a sick or injured wild animal are advised to avoid contact and report it to their local animal control official. State law also requires dogs, cats, and ferrets to be regularly vaccinated against rabies.
Knowing what to do is vital as reports of rabid or potentially rabid animals increase across the country, according to the CDC. Incidents have involved multiple people and animals that are both commonly and less commonly associated with rabies.
Rabies is nearly always fatal after symptoms begin. It is preventable, however, when treatment is given promptly and correctly after an exposure.
Here's what Massachusetts residents should know:
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system. An infected animal can spread it through bites, scratches, or saliva that enters an open wound or the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Wildlife that commonly carry rabies in the United States include bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, but any mammal can become infected. Nearly 300 people were exposed to goats with rabies at a petting zoo in North Carolina earlier this summer.
A person generally cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it.
Anyone bitten or scratched by wildlife or an animal acting strangely should immediately wash the wound with soap and water, or water alone, for 15 minutes.
The CDC recommends promptly contacting a medical provider or public health official for an assessment. The type of animal, its behavior, whether it can be tested or observed, and the nature of the contact all help determine whether treatment is needed.
People should not try to capture a potentially rabid animal unless they can do so safely. Local animal control or health officials can assist.
Post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, treatment includes rabies vaccines and immune globulin for unvaccinated individuals. Though rabies treatments are not in short supply, improper administration leads to side effects, wasted resources, and steep costs averaging $11,000 to $14,000 per patient.
Around 100,000 Americans receive PEP annually. Common errors include incorrect injection sites, improper schedules, inadequate wound care, and unnecessary immunoglobulin administration. Pharmacy records through Sept. 2 show a 33 percent increase in rabies vaccine usage and a 76 percent surge in immune globulin usage compared to last year.
How To Reduce Risk
The same human rabies vaccine can be given before exposure, but it is generally recommended only for people at higher risk, such as veterinarians, animal-control workers, rabies laboratory workers, and some travelers.
This pre-exposure vaccination does not eliminate the need for treatment after a possible exposure. A previously vaccinated person still needs two follow-up vaccine doses but generally does not need rabies immune globulin.
The CDC recommends keeping pets current on rabies vaccinations and away from wildlife whenever possible.
Anyone whose pet comes into contact with wildlife or a sick animal should contact a veterinarian and local public health or animal control officials for guidance.
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