Rabies is a dangerous viral disease that affects the central nervous system, leading to brain inflammation and death if untreated. It’s primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Despite its lethality, rabies is relatively rare in the United States due to widespread animal vaccination programs, public awareness, and effective control measures targeting wildlife reservoirs like bats, raccoons, and skunks. Human cases are exceedingly uncommon, with only a handful reported each year. Search for your state below to see how many instances of rabies were detected in your state.
Rabies in the United States, 2021, state-by-state report, by the U.S. National Rabies Surveillance System1
1 Reported by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
More information about rabies, from the CDC
