Rabies
8 Active OutbreaksRabies is a deadly viral disease that affects the nervous system. It's transmitted through animal bites, primarily from dogs in developing countries. Once symptoms appear, it's almost always fatal, but it's preventable with prompt post-exposure treatment.
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What is Rabies?
Rabies kills approximately 59,000 people annually worldwide, with 40% of victims being children under 15. While rare in the U.S. (1-3 cases/year) due to pet vaccination programs, it remains a major threat globally. The virus travels from bite site to brain, causing encephalitis. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is nearly 100% effective if given before symptoms appear.
Symptoms
- Early: Fever, headache, malaise, anxiety, confusion
- Furious rabies: Hyperactivity, hydrophobia (fear of water), aerophobia (fear of air/wind), agitation
- Paralytic rabies: Muscle paralysis starting at bite site, coma
- Later: Hallucinations, insomnia, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing
- Final stage: Coma and death (usually respiratory failure)
Transmission
Through saliva of infected animals via bites, scratches, or saliva contact with mucous membranes/open wounds. Airborne transmission extremely rare (only in bat caves). Not spread person-to-person except via organ transplant (very rare).
Contagious Period: Animals: virus in saliva 1-5 days before symptoms and throughout illness. Humans: not typically contagious to others.
Prevention
- Vaccinate pets (dogs, cats, ferrets) and livestock
- Avoid contact with wild animals and strays
- Don't touch bats (even if appear sick/dead)
- Report stray/suspicious animals to animal control
- Pre-exposure vaccination for high-risk individuals
- Immediate wound washing and medical care after any animal bite
- Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) when indicated
- Teach children to never approach unfamiliar animals
Live Rabies Global Case Map
5 countries with reported activity. Updated from real-time surveillance data.
United States — State Detail
1 state with reported activity. Click a state for detailed surveillance.
Active Outbreaks & Recent Cases
Real-time intelligence from global health monitoring and AI-powered surveillance
Data sources: BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies
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A 2nd cat is reported to have contracted rabies in Montérégie
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
A second cat has contracted racoon rabies this summer, this time in Saint-Anicet, Que, in the Montérégie region.
Three people had to seek preventative care against the disease after coming into contact with the animal Santé Québec Montérégie-Centre said in a news release on Monday.
The case was discovered one w
đź“° 28 news sources reporting on this story.
Russian Pasteurellosis Outbreak: Foot and Mouth Disease Suspected
Since February–March 2026, Russia has carried out widespread livestock culling and quarantine measures across several Siberian regions, officially due to pasteurellosis and rabies. The scale of these actions suggests a possible, though unconfirmed, outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), leading to export restrictions and regional trade bans, even though authorities deny any presence of FMD.
Source: BEACON - View Full Report
China Medical System (867.HK; 8A8.SG) Signed Collaboration Agreements for Two Innovative Biologics Used for Passive Immunization Against Tetanus and Rabies | Taiwan News | Sep. 23, 2025 12:06
SHENZHEN, CHINA, Sept. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China Medical System Holdings Limited ("CMS" or the "Group") is pleased to announce that on 22 September 2025, the Group through its subsidiaries entered into two separate exclusive Collaboration Agreements (the "Agreements") with Chongqing Genrix Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Genrix Bio") for two Class 1 therapeutic biological products, Vecantoxatug Injection (GR2001, "Vecantoxatug") indicated for passive immunization against tetanus and Silevimig Injection (GR1801, "Silevimig") indicated for passive immunization following suspected rabies virus exposure, respectively. In accordance with the Agreements, the Group has obtained exclusive commercialization rights for these two products in mainland China and exclusive licensing rights for th...
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UNICEF supplies Iran with rabies, pentavalent, and rotavirus vaccines
TEHRAN - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has procured large consignments of rabies, pentavalent, and rotavirus vaccines to immunize children against life-threatening diseases.
The vaccines were procured at the request of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME).
Over 1 million doses of rotavirus vaccine were delivered on August 21 and 23, with earlier supplies in May. This vaccine protects children from severe diarrhea, a major cause of child illness.
On August 23, 15,000 doses of rabies vaccine arrived, with another 74,400 expected by the end of September. Rabies is a deadly disease spread through the bite of infected animals.
More than 255,000 doses of the pentavalent vaccine also arrived on August 23. This single shot protects babies against five dangerous di...
Read More: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/517447/UNICEF-supplies-Iran-with-rabies-pentavalent-and-rotavirus
South African farmers face dual threat as Rift Valley Fever hits Northern Cape during FMD crisis
Red meat lovers and farmers are facing yet another blow after the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) confirmed a case of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in sheep Image: File Red meat lovers and farmers are facing yet another blow after the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) confirmed a case of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in sheep in the Augrabies area, Northern Cape. This comes as South Africa continues to deal with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which has disrupted livestock markets, restricted animal movements, and placed significant financial pressure on farmers across multiple provinces. Rift Valley Fever is a viral disease that primarily affects domestic livestock, often leading to miscarriages and high mortality rates among infected animals. IOL previously reported that the country has been battlin...
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China Medical System (867.HK; 8A8.SG) Signed Collaboration Agreements for Two Innovative Biologics Used for Passive Immunization Against Tetanus and Rabies | Taiwan News | Sep. 23, 2025 12:06
SHENZHEN, CHINA, Sept. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China Medical System Holdings Limited ("CMS" or the "Group") is pleased to announce that on 22 September 2025, the Group through its subsidiaries entered into two separate exclusive Collaboration Agreements (the "Agreements") with Chongqing Genrix Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Genrix Bio") for two Class 1 therapeutic biological products, Vecantoxatug Injection (GR2001, "Vecantoxatug") indicated for passive immunization against tetanus and Silevimig Injection (GR1801, "Silevimig") indicated for passive immunization following suspected rabies virus exposure, respectively. In accordance with the Agreements, the Group has obtained exclusive commercialization rights for these two products in mainland China and exclusive licensing rights for th...
Read More: https://taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/6205734
Wildlife disease, Global
Between August and December 2025, HPAI and ASF accounted for most of the 6000 wildlife disease outbreaks reported across 52 countries. HPAI remains the primary concern due to its impact on threatened species and continued adaptation in mammals, while new detections of West Nile fever in Belgium and rabies in Kazakhstan highlight the geographic spread of zoonotic diseases. The true global burden is likely underestimated because of limited wildlife surveillance in Africa and Asia.
Source: BEACON - View Full Report
Bad news for South Africans who love red meat
As South Africa works to contain and treat various outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the country, the Red Meat Industry Services body (RMIS) has reported that another disease, Rift Valley Fever, has been diagnosed in sheep. The group's latest FMD update noted that RVF has been diagnosed in sheep in the Augrabies area in the Northern Cape. Rift Valley Fever is a viral zoonosis, affecting primarily domestic livestock; it causes abortion and death of the animals. Notably, the disease can be spread to humans by infected animals, usually through contact with the blood or body fluids of infected animals or by bites from infected mosquitoes. However, there has been no documented case of human-to-human transmission. The virus was first identified in 1931 during an investigation into an ...
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Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-17
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Common questions about Rabies answered by our epidemiology team
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