Rabies in the United States icon

Rabies in the United States

Every year, between 16,000 and 39,000 people come in contact with potentially rabid animals in the United States and receive vaccination.1,2 Wild animals were the carriers of rabies in 92% of cases reported in 2013.1

Rabies is found across the country, and it is important to find out about rabies in your area. Use the interactive map to click on your state to learn what animals are rabies carriers where you live. It is important that you and your family know about what animals in your area are most likely to carry the rabies virus and how to reduce your risk of coming in contact with infected animals so you can protect yourself, your loved ones, and your pets from contracting rabies.1

Select a region to learn about rabies in that area

United States Rabies MapEast Coast Central West Az ca nm tx Alaska Puerto Rico

East Coast

On the East Coast the most common carriers of rabies are raccoons, skunks, and bats. Foxes also account for some cases of rabies on the East Coast, as well as cats and, in some cases, dogs.1

Do not touch or feed wild animals, and avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats to avoid risk of rabies infection. If you see an animal acting unusually vicious and aggressive, or if the animal is acting strangely or is having trouble walking, you should immediately report the animal to local animal control.2

Raccoons with Rabies

Raccoons

Skunks with Rabies

Skunks

Bats with Rabies

Bats

Central United States and West Coast

For most of the United States, the most common carriers of rabies are skunks. Bats also account for cases of rabies in the middle states of the country, as well as some cats and dogs.1

Do not touch or feed wild animals and avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats to avoid risk of rabies infection. If you see an animal acting unusually vicious and aggressive, or if the animal is acting strangely or is having trouble walking, you should immediately report the animal to local animal control.2

Skunks with Rabies

Skunks

Bats with Rabies

Bats

Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas

Skunks are one of the main carriers of rabies in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. However, foxes are also of concern in areas of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. As is the case across the United States, bats and some cats and dogs can also carry rabies in this region, and caution should be exercised if you come in contact with any of these animals.1

Do not touch or feed wild animals, and avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats to avoid risk of rabies infection. If you see an animal acting unusually vicious and aggressive, or if the animal is acting strangely or is having trouble walking, you should immediately report the animal to local animal control.2

Skunks with Rabies

Skunks

Raccoons with Rabies

Foxes

Bats with Rabies

Bats

Alaska

In Alaska, Artic foxes present the greatest rabies risk.1

Do not touch or feed wild animals, and avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats to avoid risk of rabies infection. If you see an animal acting unusually vicious and aggressive, or if the animal is acting strangely or is having trouble walking, you should immediately report the animal to local animal control.2

Arctic Foxes with Rabies

Arctic Foxes

Puerto Rico

Mongooses are the most common carrier of rabies in Puerto Rico. Dogs can also pose a threat.1

Do not touch or feed wild animals, and avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats to avoid risk of rabies infection. If you see an animal acting unusually vicious and aggressive, or if the animal is acting strangely or is having trouble walking, you should immediately report the animal to local animal control.2

Mongooses with Rabies

Mongooses

Select a state to learn about rabies in that area

East Coast

United States Rabies Map

On the east coast the most common carriers of rabies are raccoons, skunks, and bats. Foxes also account for some cases of rabies on the east coast, as well as cats, and in some cases, dogs.2

Do not touch or feed wild animals and avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats to avoid risk of rabies infection. If you see an animal acting unusually vicious and aggressive, or if the animal is acting strangely or is having trouble walking, you should immediately report the animal to local animal control.1

Raccoons with Rabies

Raccoons

Skunks with Rabies

Skunks

Bats with Rabies

Bats

Central United States and West Coast

United States Rabies Map

For most of the United States, the most common carriers of rabies are skunks. Bats also account for cases of rabies in the middle states of the country as well as some cats and dogs.2

Do not touch or feed wild animals and avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats to avoid risk of rabies infection. If you see an animal acting unusually vicious and aggressive, or if the animal is acting strangely or is having trouble walking, you should immediately report the animal to local animal control.1

Skunks with Rabies

Skunks

Bats with Rabies

Bats

Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas

United States Rabies Map

Skunks are one of the main carriers of rabies in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. However, foxes are also of concern in areas of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. As is the case across the United States, bats and some cats and dogs can also carry rabies in this region and caution should be exercised if you come in contact with any of these animals.2

Do not touch or feed wild animals and avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats to avoid risk of rabies infection. If you see an animal acting unusually vicious and aggressive, or if the animal is acting strangely or is having trouble walking, you should immediately report the animal to local animal control.1

Skunks with Rabies

Skunks

Raccoons with Rabies

Foxes

Bats with Rabies

Bats

Alaska

United States Rabies Map

In Alaska, Artic foxes present the greatest rabies risk.2

Do not touch or feed wild animals and avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats to avoid risk of rabies infection. If you see an animal acting unusually vicious and aggressive, or if the animal is acting strangely or is having trouble walking, you should immediately report the animal to local animal control.1

Arctic Foxes with Rabies

Arctic Foxes

Puerto Rico

United States Rabies Map

The mongoose is the most common carrier of rabies in Puerto Rico. Dogs can also pose a threat.2

Do not touch or feed wild animals and avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and cats to avoid risk of rabies infection. If you see an animal acting unusually vicious and aggressive, or if the animal is acting strangely or is having trouble walking, you should immediately report the animal to local animal control.1

Mongooses with Rabies

Mongooses

 
Important Safety Information for HyperRAB® (rabies immune globulin [human])

Indication and Usage

HYPERRAB® (rabies immune globulin [human]) is indicated for postexposure prophylaxis, along with rabies vaccine, for all persons suspected of exposure to rabies.

Limitations of Use 

Persons who have been previously immunized with rabies vaccine and have a confirmed adequate rabies antibody titer should receive only vaccine.

For unvaccinated persons, the combination of HYPERRAB and vaccine is recommended for both bite and nonbite exposures regardless of the time interval between exposure and initiation of postexposure prophylaxis.

Beyond 7 days (after the first vaccine dose), HYPERRAB is not indicated since an antibody response to vaccine is presumed to have occurred.

Important Safety Information

For infiltration and intramuscular use only.

Severe hypersensitivity reactions may occur with HYPERRAB. Patients with a history of prior systemic allergic reactions to human immunoglobulin preparations are at a greater risk of developing severe hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions. Have epinephrine available for treatment of acute allergic symptoms, should they occur.

HYPERRAB is made from human blood and may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, eg, viruses, the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) agent, and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent.

The most common adverse reactions in >5% of subjects during clinical trials were injection-site pain, headache, injection-site nodule, abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, nasal congestion, and oropharyngeal pain.

Do not administer repeated doses of HYPERRAB once vaccine treatment has been initiated as this could prevent the full expression of active immunity expected from the rabies vaccine.

Other antibodies in the HYPERRAB preparation may interfere with the response to live vaccines such as measles, mumps, polio, or rubella. Defer immunization with live vaccines for 4 months after HYPERRAB administration.  

Please see full Prescribing Information for HyperRAB.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Important Safety Information for HyperTET® S/D (tetanus immune globulin [human])

HyperTET® S/D (tetanus immune globulin [human]) is indicated for prophylaxis against tetanus following injury in patients whose immunization is incomplete or uncertain.

HyperTET S/D should be given with caution to patients with a history of prior systemic allergic reactions following the administration of human immunoglobulin preparations.

In patients who have severe thrombocytopenia or any coagulation disorder that would contraindicate intramuscular injections, HyperTET S/D should be given only if the expected benefits outweigh the risks.

Slight soreness at the site of injection and slight temperature elevation may be noted at times. Sensitization to repeated injections of human immunoglobulin is extremely rare. In the course of routine injections of large numbers of persons with immunoglobulin, there have been a few isolated occurrences of angioneurotic edema, nephrotic syndrome, and anaphylactic shock after injection. Administration of live virus vaccines (eg, MMR) should be deferred for approximately 3 months after tetanus immune globulin (human) administration.

HyperTET S/D is made from human plasma. Products made from human plasma may contain infectious agents, such as viruses and theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent that can cause disease. There is also the possibility that unknown infectious agents may be present in such products.

Please see HyperTET S/D full Prescribing Information for complete prescribing details.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.


References:

  1. Dyer JL, Yager P, Orciari L, et al. Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2013. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014;245(10):1111-1123.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/transmission/. Updated January 20, 2016. Accessed March 25, 2016.