Source: NBC News
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported six rabies-related deaths in the U.S. over the past year—the highest in years—amid a rise in outbreaks among wild animals such as bats, foxes, skunks, and raccoons. At least 15 likely outbreaks are being tracked across states including New York, Arizona, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Alaska. Bats remain the leading source of human rabies infections, as well as the species most likely to carry the virus.
Each year, 1.4 million Americans are evaluated for possible exposure, with around 100,000 receiving post-exposure vaccinations. Rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, progressing rapidly from flu-like signs to paralysis, hallucinations, and death within weeks. A recent case in Indiana highlighted the risks: a 22-year-old woman required urgent treatment after a bat bite in her apartment. Experts stress that while canine rabies was eliminated in the U.S. decades ago through vaccination laws, wildlife remains a growing threat.
Read the full story HERE: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/rabies-outbreaks-rising-us-deaths-vaccine-rcna227771