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Several states are experiencing a combination of unique human-and-wildlife encounters and highly publicized events involving potential rabies exposures from those animals. In Michigan, for example, statewide reporting confirmed positive tests for 47 rabid bats and 1 rabid skunk through September 3—mostly related to animals that were found in family homes. Recently, an urgent care in Traverse City, Michigan, has started offering post-exposure rabies treatment to improve access to care and help patients avoid the emergency department, according to a local ABC news report. Meanwhile in North Carolina, 3 baby goats from a mobile petting zoo tested positive for rabies in late August after multiple family events, and South Carolina has reported 78 cases of rabid animals statewide so far this year. The prevalence of rabies itself is likely not increasing but rather the encounters between humans and animals are increasing, causing more concern and more animal testing than in years past.
What to do: About 100,000 Americans receive post-exposure prophylaxis following rabies exposure each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency explicitly notes that most suspected rabies exposures need prompt medical assessment but not necessarily an emergency department visit—unless a wound is present that requires emergency treatment. That means urgent care can be a first point of contact for patients with animal bites or possible rabies exposures. There have been no confirmed instances of human-to-human transmission of the rabies virus, so standard protective measures are appropriate (eg, hand washing, gloves, etc.) for clinical care. CDC offers clinical guides for prophylactic care on its website.