Warning Issued to Pet Owners as Rabies Spreads to Another State - Newsweek

Health officials are warning pet owners to ensure that their animals are vaccinated against rabies as new infections have been reported in multiple states, including a case in Louisiana, where a pet dog in the Mire area tested positive. The dog was euthanized and additional testing on other dogs from the household is pending.

The news comes shortly after Texas recorded its first case of rabies in a pet dog in more than a decade.

The warnings come as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in human exposures to rabid, or potentially rabid, animals this year. In July and August, there was a 17 percent increase in rabies-related inquiries compared to the same period in 2025.

Certain states have seen sharp increases. In Idaho, 24 rabid bats have been detected, more than in any of the previous three years. In Texas, 22 cases of rabies in wild animals were reported in San Antonio and the surrounding Bexar County area.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the animals most likely to transmit rabies in the United States are bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and skunks.

Rabies is rare in people in the United States, but the World Health Organization states that death is "inevitable" once clinical symptoms begin and the virus infects the central nervous system.

Rabies can spread through the bite or scratch of an infected mammal or when infected saliva enters broken skin, the eyes or the mouth.

If you are bitten by an animal or exposed to an animal suspected of having rabies, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Virginia recently issued a public warning after health officials in Suffolk announced that a raccoon had tested positive for the virus.

Similarly, North Carolina officials are tracing people who may have handled infected baby goats from a mobile petting zoo, while Florida issued a 60-day alert for part of Brevard County after a raccoon tested positive.

Early rabies symptoms in pets can be difficult to recognize because they often resemble other illnesses.

Initial signs can include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite or changes in behavior. Animals that are normally friendly may become withdrawn or unusually aggressive, while timid pets can appear more excitable than usual.

As the disease progresses, neurological symptoms typically develop. These can include excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, weakness, lack of coordination, paralysis, seizures and unusual vocalizations.

A pet that has been bitten or scratched by wildlife and subsequently begins exhibiting behavioral or neurological changes should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately.

Following news of the rabid pet dog, animal hospitals and shelters in Louisiana have issued warnings as concerns about the disease rise.

The Fitzgerald Animal Hospital wrote in a recent Facebook post: "Rabies is not something to take lightly. While cases in domestic animals are uncommon, rabies is a deadly disease that can affect both animals and people.

"Do not pet or touch any wild animals. Please be cautious of abnormal behavior such as a typically nocturnal animal that is out during the daytime, excessive salivation and aggression."

The Jennings Animal Shelter wrote in a post on Facebook: “Please check your dogs’ and cats’ vaccination records and make sure their rabies vaccines are current. Louisiana requires dogs, cats and ferrets over 3 months of age to be vaccinated against rabies.

“Rabies is preventable, but once symptoms develop, it is almost always fatal. Please don’t wait for an exposure to find out your pet is overdue.”

The American Veterinary Medical Association shared the news of the rabies case in Louisiana, as well as a note for pet owners to verify their animals' vaccination records.

Rabies is contagious, but it does not spread through casual contact. The virus is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected mammal. It can also spread if infected saliva enters an open wound or comes into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth.

People cannot contract rabies by touching an infected animal's fur, blood or urine. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.

Because the virus travels through the nervous system, symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months after exposure. Once clinical symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal.

Safe and effective rabies vaccines are available for people and pets. The CDC reported that use of rabies vaccines has increased by 33 percent this year, while use of rabies immunoglobulin has increased by 76 percent.

Routine vaccination is mandatory for dogs in many states and is also recommended for cats and ferrets.

Humans are not routinely vaccinated, but pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for certain high-risk groups, including veterinarians, animal control workers, wildlife professionals and laboratory personnel who work with the virus.

People who may have been exposed to rabies can receive post-exposure prophylaxis, which typically includes wound cleaning, rabies immunoglobulin and a series of vaccine doses. When administered promptly, the treatment can prevent the disease from developing.

Officials are urging pet owners to keep vaccinations current, supervise animals outdoors and avoid allowing pets to interact with wildlife.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Dave Siminoff.