Health officials in the US state of Rhode Island have observed an unexplained rise in cases of rabies in animals, with infections nearly doubling this year.
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This has led to dozens of people receiving preventative treatment and has baffled health authorities. This comes at a time when several US states are experiencing an increase in potential exposure cases.
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the brain and nervous system. It is fatal in most cases once symptoms appear in humans or animals, and there is no treatment once this stage is reached. It can be prevented if a person or animal receives the necessary vaccines as soon as possible after a bite, scratch, or contact with the saliva of an infected animal, whether the saliva enters an open wound, the eye, nose, or mouth.
Forty-eight animals have been confirmed to have rabies this year, including 27 raccoons, 14 bats, four skunks, a cat, a wolf, and one marmot.
Last week, two more raccoons tested positive, bringing the total to 48. This is a significant increase from the average of 25 cases per year over the past five years, and the record low of 30 cases in 2025.
The two new cases were discovered near the capital city of Providence, which has a population of approximately 200,000.
At least 32 people have required preventative treatment due to potential exposure to the disease.
The surge began last March and is primarily concentrated among raccoons, unlike in other states like California where the increase is more prevalent among bats. "We don't have a real explanation," said state veterinarian Scott Marshall, adding that the cases have remained stable throughout the year and show no clear pattern.
Most of the animals were found on the ground or dead, often discovered by pets in neighborhoods, prompting emergency calls for immediate treatment.
The hypothesis that severe drought drove animals to "expand their ranges" and come into contact with infected animals collapsed after rates stabilized once the droughts ended. State health officials suggested that an increased number of animals being tested may have caused the sharp rise.
Rabies is transmitted when the saliva of an infected animal enters an open wound, eye, nose, or mouth. North Smithfield Animal Control Officer Leanne Garzon stated, "When an animal has been in contact with a suspected case of rabies, it should be vaccinated within 96 hours."
In humans, the first symptoms include fever, weakness, and headache, and may appear days or weeks after exposure. Later symptoms include numbness at the bite site, anxiety, irritability, unusual behavior, and difficulty swallowing. At this stage, treatments are ineffective against the infection. In animals, early signs are often nonspecific, such as vomiting or respiratory problems, before clear neurological signs appear.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 17% increase in communications related to potential exposures through August alone, and said that at least eight U.S. states distributed more post-exposure prophylaxis treatments this year than they did in the same period of 2025, without specifying which states.
Other states on the East Coast, including Maryland and North Carolina, are facing renewed concern.
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