CDC Issues Alert on Nationwide Increase in Rabies Exposures and Surging Vaccine Demand
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory regarding a nationwide increase in rabies exposures. From July through August, the CDC observed a 17% rise in rabies-related inquiries compared to the same period last year. Additionally, at least eight state health departments have reported an increase in administering post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for rabies, or errors in its administration. This surge in exposures includes mass events, such as one in North Carolina where nearly 300 people were potentially exposed to rabid baby goats from a mobile petting zoo. The CDC highlights that while there is currently no shortage of human rabies vaccine or immunoglobulin, the use of these critical treatments has significantly increased this year, with rabies vaccines up by an estimated 33% and immunoglobulins by 76% compared to last year. The agency emphasizes the importance of appropriate PEP administration to ensure these life-saving vaccines remain available and to avoid un...
