Massachusetts Rabies Cases: What to Know About the Spike

Massachusetts is seeing an increase in rabies cases, but so is much of the rest of the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an advisory about a "nationwide increase in human rabies exposures."

Rabid wildlife can pass rabies to humans and domestic animals, such as dogs and cats. Generally, wild animals avoid contact with humans; however, when rabid, they can be aggressive.

The CDC released a data visualization showing common carriers of rabies by location in the U.S. Here on the East Coast, including Massachusetts, raccoons appear to be the biggest carrier threat for spreading rabies.

Combating the Spread: Oral Vaccines and Local Oversight

Boston's WBZ-TV 4 reported the New England Wildlife Center has been "using a helicopter to drop edible vaccine packets" to "vaccinate wild animals from Cape Cod to the South Shore." The NEWC hopes that the vaccine packets "eliminate the virus systematically."

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources' Rabies Control Project provides information on its website about rabies vaccination and quarantine protocols and regulations for animal bites.

Massachusetts Is Trying To Slow An Increase In Rabies Cases — Getty Images

What to Do If You Suspect a Rabies Exposure

"The Massachusetts Department of Animal Health, Division of Epidemiology makes all decisions regarding humans that have been potentially exposed to rabies through an animal scratch or bite," according to the department. "Any non-domestic animal biting or scratching a human must be reported to DPH Epidemiology at 617-983-6800."

The increase in rabies cases is partly due to cyclical increases in wildlife populations.

Western Mass News reported, "Isolated cases have been confirmed in various towns across the state (such as Southwick and Mattapoisett earlier in the year), prompting local animal control and board of health reminders."

Animals in Which Rabies is Most Commonly Found

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in North America rabies is most commonly found in bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, and mongoose. It is also found in cats, cattle, and dogs. The CDC says that rabid bats have been found in every state except for Hawaii. Rabid mongoose have been found in Puerto Rico.

Rabies is easily transmitted from animals to other animals, including human beings. Human cases are rare in the United States, but deadly if not caught in time.

Gallery Credit: Kristine Bellino

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