CDC Advises Nationwide Increase in Rabies Exposures and Treatment Errors
The CDC has issued a health advisory noting a nationwide jump in human rabies exposures and an increase in mistakes made during rabies preventive treatments. The agency reported a rise in exposure cases and in the use of post-exposure prophylaxis…
St. Louis, MO, September 11, 2026 — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory highlighting a significant national trend: a rise in human rabies exposures coupled with an increase in errors during the administration of preventive treatments.
According to the agency’s advisory, there has been a notable increase in reported cases of human rabies exposure across the United States. This surge is accompanied by a corresponding rise in the use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a critical medical intervention designed to prevent rabies infection after potential exposure.
However, the advisory also points to a concerning development within this trend. The CDC has observed an increased frequency of mistakes occurring during the administration of these rabies preventive treatments. The nature and specific types of errors in treatment were not detailed in the summary provided.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease transmitted through the bite or scratch of infected animals. If left untreated, it is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) involves a series of vaccines and, in some cases, rabies immune globulin, which must be administered correctly and promptly following a suspected exposure to prevent the virus from reaching the brain.
The advisory from the CDC serves to alert healthcare providers and the public to these emerging concerns. Further details regarding the scope of the increase in exposures, the specific trends in PEP administration errors, and any recommended actions for healthcare professionals were not elaborated upon in the provided summary.
Story summarized from the original created by Dorothy Sedovic on www.firstalert4.com, see more information here.
