Rabies surveillance in the United States during 2012

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2013 Sep 15;243(6):805-15. doi: 10.2460/javma.243.6.805.

Abstract

SUMMARY-During 2012, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported 6,162 rabid animals and 1 human rabies case to the CDC, representing a 2.1% increase from the 6,031 rabid animals and 6 human cases reported in 2011. Approximately 92% of reported rabid animals were wildlife. Relative contributions by the major animal groups were as follows: 1,953 raccoons (31.7%), 1,680 bats (27.3%), 1,539 skunks (25.0%), 340 foxes (5.5%), 257 cats (4.2%), 115 cattle (1.9%), and 84 dogs (1.4%). Compared with 2011, there was a substantial increase in the number of rabid cattle reported. One case of rabies involving a human was reported from California after the patient died abroad. The infection was determined to be a result of a rabies virus variant associated with Tadarida brasiliensis, with exposure occurring in California.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic*
  • Animals, Wild*
  • Humans
  • Rabies / epidemiology
  • Rabies / veterinary*
  • United States / epidemiology