Rabies cases increased 17 percent in July and August, CDC says

A 17% surge in reported human rabies exposures during July and August caught U.S. health officials off guard, as the disease typically registers only a few human cases each year. The spike represents a deviation from the stable baseline that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has monitored for decades.

In response, the CDC released a summer advisory warning that animal rabies activity has amplified, leading more people to request post‑exposure prophylaxis. The Hill highlighted the agency’s call for heightened vigilance among pet owners, while NBC News reproduced the statistical brief showing the upward trend.

FOX 13 Tampa Bay aired practical guidance, stressing timely vaccination of domestic animals, avoidance of stray wildlife, and prompt medical evaluation after potential bites. Monitoring will continue throughout the fall to determine whether the spike stabilizes or escalates further.