Recent headlines have brought rabies back into the spotlight, following incidents such as rabid beavers attacking visitors at a Maryland park and a mobile petting zoo in North Carolina exposing over 200 people to the virus via baby goats.
Across social media platforms, videos of aggressive animal encounters and subsequent rabies warnings have grown increasingly common. While the involvement of rabies isn’t always confirmed in every clip, the advised course of action remains consistent: those affected are typically urged to receive rabies vaccinations.
Rabies is a severe viral infection targeting the central nervous system. Once physical symptoms manifest, the condition is nearly always fatal in humans.
Although human infections remain uncommon, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that roughly 4,000 animal rabies cases are documented annually. Furthermore, the latest CDC figures indicate a 5.1% rise in animal cases between 2022 and 2023.
Even though isolated attack videos and viral anecdotes don’t automatically point to a nationwide statistical surge, several public health departments report handling a higher volume of animal attack notifications this year.
Public health authorities in Idaho have identified 24 rabid bats so far—surpassing totals from the previous three years. Similarly, officials in San Diego County, California, noted an increase in rabies-positive bats. Meanwhile, the health director for Jones County, North Carolina, reported an unusually elevated rate of animal rabies cases over the course of 2026, though experts have not pinpointed a single underlying reason for these spikes.
To help the public navigate these concerns, wildlife specialists and medical professionals have outlined key facts regarding the virus.
What animals carry rabies?
According to Tanya LeRoith, director of Virginia Tech’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, any mammal is capable of contracting and spreading rabies.
Nevertheless, certain species in the United States present a higher statistical risk, including bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and mongooses.
Infected animals often display symptoms such as uncoordinated movement, erratic stumbling, muscle spasms, hind-leg paralysis, difficulty swallowing, and unusual aggression.
LeRoith emphasizes that any abnormal behavior or sign of physical distress should be treated as a potential warning sign.
“Unfortunately it can be difficult to tell, especially if they seem friendly,” she noted.
When do I need a rabies vaccine?
Dr. Sean Grogan, an emergency medicine physician, advises that anyone wounded by an animal should thoroughly wash the affected area using hot, running water and soap. Following this, individuals should visit the nearest emergency room immediately.
Medical staff will evaluate the nature of the encounter to determine if post-exposure prophylaxis—the standard medical treatment used to fend off the virus following exposure—is necessary.
If you encounter a wild animal acting strangely but suffer no bites, scratches, or direct contact, consult your local or state health department for guidance.
Am I only at risk of rabies if an animal bites me?
Not necessarily. While bites represent the primary vehicle for transmission via infected saliva, animals frequently groom themselves, leaving saliva distributed across their fur and skin. Consequently, even a minor scratch can transfer the virus.
Exposure can also occur if infectious material comes into contact with broken skin or mucous membranes, such as the eyes or mouth.
“Consider a child feeds a baby goat, gets goat slobber on their hand, then puts their fingers in their mouth or their eyes,” explained Dr. Meagan Deming, an infectious disease expert at the University of Maryland’s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health. “That’s an exposure.”
Discovering a bat inside a living space is similarly categorized as an exposure unless it is an absolute certainty that no physical contact occurred.
Because bat teeth are exceptionally small, a bite can easily take place without causing noticeable pain or leaving visible marks.
“If you wake up to find a bat in your room? Exposure,” Deming stated. “Child sleeping in a room and a bat was in there? Exposure.”
This standard also applies if an individual cannot accurately report whether contact occurred due to intoxication, unconsciousness, or a physical disability.
What should I do if I think I have been exposed to rabies?
Prompt medical evaluation is critical. Healthcare providers will clean and dress any wounds before administering a treatment regimen that typically includes two components: an immediate injection of antibodies alongside the first dose of a multi-part vaccine series.
Because the body needs time to generate its own antibodies following a vaccination, patients who have not previously been immunized receive Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG). Derived from human donors with high concentrations of rabies antibodies, this biologic treatment is injected near the wound site as quickly as possible to block the virus from migrating into the nervous system.
Following the initial visit, patients receive subsequent vaccine doses on days three, seven, and 14, according to CDC guidelines. Individuals with compromised immune systems require an additional fifth dose on day 28.
Deming notes that when a healthcare provider officially documents a rabies exposure, the vaccine series is generally covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most major insurance providers. The antibody injection can likewise be covered through proper medical coding, and financial assistance programs are often available via hospitals or health departments for those facing coverage hurdles.
How can I reduce my chance of rabies exposure?
Avoid approaching, feeding, or attempting to rescue wild animals. “Leave that to the actual wildlife rescue societies,” Deming advised.
Additionally, ensure that household pets and domestic animals that interact with people are up to date on their rabies shots.
“The vaccine is very effective and infected pets can be a common cause of transmission to people if they are not vaccinated,” LeRoith emphasized, recommending that owners actively prevent their pets from mingling with wildlife.
PolitiFact Staff Researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report.