CDC Rabies Alert Puts Spotlight on 350 Texas Animal Cases

HOUSTON — A new federal health advisory about increased rabies activity and human exposure reports is drawing attention to hundreds of confirmed animal cases across Texas this year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the advisory on Sept. 10, saying reports of animal exposures and the use of rabies post-exposure vaccines increased nationwide during the summer of 2026. The agency urged health professionals to make careful risk assessments and follow current federal treatment recommendations.

Texas Department of State Health Services data reviewed by the Houston Chronicle showed 350 laboratory-confirmed animal rabies cases statewide through Sept. 1. Bats and skunks were the most common carriers. In the Houston area, the reported cases involved those two species, the newspaper reported.

The CDC alert concerns animal activity and potential human exposures; it does not mean that Texas has recorded 350 human infections. Confirmed human rabies remains rare in the United States, but the virus is almost always fatal once symptoms begin. Prompt evaluation and proper preventive treatment after a qualifying exposure can stop the disease before symptoms develop.

Rabies generally spreads when saliva from an infected mammal enters the body through a bite, scratch or contact with broken skin or mucous membranes. Bat encounters require particular caution because a bite or scratch can be difficult to detect.

Anyone who is bitten, scratched or otherwise may have been exposed should wash the affected area thoroughly and promptly contact a health care provider or public health department. The CDC said appropriate treatment can include rabies vaccine and, for some patients, human rabies immune globulin. People should not wait for symptoms before seeking guidance.

Residents can reduce risk by avoiding direct contact with bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and other wildlife; keeping dogs, cats and ferrets current on rabies vaccinations; and calling animal control when an animal appears sick, unusually aggressive, disoriented or unable to move normally. Wildlife should not be handled, even when it appears injured.

The CDC also cautioned clinicians against both undertreatment and unnecessary treatment. Correct vaccine and immune-globulin administration is essential for effective protection, while evidence-based assessments help preserve supplies and prevent avoidable costs. People with compromised immune systems may need an additional vaccine dose and follow-up laboratory testing.

The federal notice comes during a period when outdoor activity and encounters with bats and other wildlife can increase. For Houston-area families, the practical message is straightforward: keep pets vaccinated, avoid handling wildlife and seek professional advice immediately after any possible exposure.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sept. 10, 2026; Texas Department of State Health Services; and Houston Chronicle, Sept. 11, 2026.

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