Clinical

The state of rabies: Facts and stats you need to know

Rabies is preventable through vaccines, and human deaths from rabies are fairly rare in the US. But with multiple outbreaks across the country currently being tracked, veterinary professionals are well positioned to educate clients as they vaccinate pets. First, though, it’s important to recognize the impact of rabies today, both in the US and around the world, as well as what resources are available to you.

Kristen Green Seymour, Emily Singler, VMD

Published Sep 26, 2025

World Rabies Day on September 28 is an opportunity for us all to recognize the fact that, although rabies is 100% preventable through vaccination, it still kills tens of thousands of people worldwide.

And, with vaccine hesitancy becoming even more of a concern, it’s imperative that veterinary professionals understand the risks that rabies poses (in the US and abroad), what their responsibility is, and what to do in the event of a rabies exposure.

AAHA Webinar: Critical rabies training

Make sure you and your team are up to speed on your legal responsibilities regarding compliance and the “must know” issues around rabies and the rabies vaccine. Register now for the September 30 webinar, or catch it on demand after the fact.

Over the coming weeks, AAHA will work with a variety of subject matter experts including veterinarians, human healthcare providers, and public health experts to explore topics related to rabies. Our goal in doing this is two-fold.

First, because knowledge is power, we want to arm veterinary professionals with pertinent facts around rabies so that they can help their colleagues, clients, and others in their community truly understand why the rabies vaccine is so important. Although we may encounter vaccine-hesitant clients, by acknowledging their concerns around vaccines (including the rabies vaccine) and discussing with them the very real and dangerous risks an unvaccinated pet faces, we can change minds and help families, one appointment at a time. (Remember, these families want what’s best for their pets—sometimes, they just need to be heard before they can begin to change their minds.)

Second, we hope to help those professionals feel confident about what to do if a rabies exposure is suspected. After all, rabies is one of the most well-known—and high stakes—One Health issues. And as the 2025 AAHA One Health Guidelines: Navigating Cross Disciplinary Partnerships makes clear, when a zoonotic disease is identified, communication and coordination among veterinary and human medical professionals is essential, both for the patient and for the community. (And good news: There’s a roadmap for that!)

One Health Guidelines

The 2025 AAHA One Health Guidelines: Navigating cross-disciplinary partnerships provide expert insights and detailed roadmaps to help veterinary professionals work seamlessly with other healthcare professionals within a One Health System. Read up on common scenarios, case studies, and more.

The reality of rabies in the US today

As of September 2025, the US is tracking 14 potential outbreaks in 20 states, according to CNN. And, since the previous September, they report that six people have died nationwide, which they confirmed with a spokesperson from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Within the US, contact with infected bats is the leading cause of human rabies death (70%), according to the CDC, although other wildlife species including foxes, skunks, and racoons also pose a risk. Around 75% of Americans live in close proximity to these wildlife species.

Prior to 1960 (when widespread rabies prevention efforts went into effect—and when rabies in domestic dogs was much more common), several hundred Americans died of rabies annually. Today, fewer than 10 human deaths are reported in the US each year.

Vaccination Guidelines

Understanding which vaccines are considered core and what lifestyle factors make other vaccines crucial are elements of veterinary medicine. Empower yourself—and your team—with the Canine and Feline Vaccination Guidelines.

Even so, the number of exposures is much higher, according to the CDC, with around 4000 animal rabies cases reported annually (90% of which occur in wildlife), and with 100,000 Americans receiving post-exposure prophylaxis every year.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis

Vaccinating against rabies prior to exposure is not recommended for the general public, although for those with jobs or lifestyles that put them at higher risk—including veterinary professionals—are eligible for what’s called pre-exposure prophylaxis to provide prevention. Veterinary professionals are considered to be in Risk Category 3 and can opt for a one-time antibody titer check between one and three years after the two-dose vaccination, or they can receive a one-time booster.

Rabies worldwide

In other parts of the world—especially Africa and Asia—the rabies risk is exponentially higher. It’s considered a serious public health problem in over 150 countries and territories, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Here are a few statistics to put this in perspective:

The CDC estimates around 70,000 human deaths, worldwide, due to rabies each year; the WHO puts that number at around 59,000, but acknowledges that there’s likely significant underreporting.
Worldwide, dogs are responsible for the majority of human rabies deaths, according to the WHO since not all countries have effective rabies prevention programs like in the US. Children are the most frequent victims.
Health risks aside, the financial cost of rabies is steep, estimated at around $8.6 billion USD; this includes lost lives and livelihoods, medical care and associated costs, and psychological trauma, according to the WHO.

Key concepts—and what’s to come

Many people will go their entire lives without coming into contact with a rabies case, but even so, it’s important to understand a few basics about the disease—and what to do if an exposure is suspected. Acting quickly is vital; the incubation period for rabies ranges from weeks to months, but once symptoms begin to develop, it is fatal. Receiving post-exposure prophylaxis prior to symptom onset is a must.

In future articles, we’ll be going into detail regarding common questions about rabies, and we’ll also provide a step-by-step printout showing you what to do, who to call, and what actions to take in the event of an exposure, featuring insight from human infectious disease and veterinary public health experts. If you have questions you’d like us to answer regarding rabies, please email us at [email protected].

In the meantime, we have a comprehensive list of resources for you, as well as articles related to rabies that you may find interesting. And we hope you’ll join us on September 30 at noon MT for what’s sure to be an illuminating webinar on the topic. Register today (or, if the date has passed at the time you’re reading this, be sure to catch the recording!).

Resources

Rabies and Rabies Vaccination: Compliance and the “Must Know” Issues with Richard Ford, DVM, DACVIM, DACVPM (Hon) – AAHA webinar, September 30 at noon MT (or on-demand after the fact)
Rabies in the United States (CDC)
Rabies fact sheet (WHO)
Rabies information for veterinarians (CDC)
Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis recommendations (CDC)
Rabies status by country (CDC)
Testing facilities, including state health departments, research universities, and some commercial laboratories (CDC)
Rabies Surveillance in the United States report (AVMA)
National Rabies Management Program (USDA)