CDC Issues Health Advisory on Increased Rabies Exposures and Treatment Errors

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a health advisory due to a recent rise in human exposures to rabid or potentially rabid animals and reported errors in administering rabies post-exposure treatment (PEP). Since July, several U.S. jurisdictions have noted local increases in human rabies exposures, including from less common rabies vectors, and multiple outbreaks. The CDC is urging health departments and clinicians to conduct proper risk assessments before treatment and to adhere to recommendations for rabies vaccine and human rabies immune globulin administration.