Rhode Island has recorded an elevated number of rabid animals this year, most of them raccoons and bats, the state Department of Health said Monday, along with a rabid cat, coyote, skunk and woodchuck.
The department marked World Rabies Day by highlighting its exposure assessment program, which operates around the clock and evaluates individual cases to determine whether someone bitten or scratched actually needs post-exposure treatment.
That treatment, known as PEP, is effective at preventing rabies if given before symptoms appear. Once symptoms develop, the disease is nearly always fatal. A full course costs between $11,000 and $14,000 a person and requires multiple visits.
An analysis published this month in the Journal of Public Health Practice and Management looked at the state’s program from 2013 through 2022 and found that animal bite rates rose while the rate of people receiving PEP fell. The authors estimated the program prevented unnecessary treatment for 1,800 to 2,300 people a year, saving $5 million to $16 million annually.
“This is a win for patients, healthcare providers, and the healthcare system overall,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin.
The increase isn’t only local. The CDC issued a health advisory on Sept. 10 reporting 17 percent more rabies-related inquiries this July and August than the same period last year, with at least eight state health departments reporting increased PEP use, administration errors, or both. Nationally, use of rabies vaccine is up an estimated 33 percent and immune globulin 76 percent over last year, though the CDC says there is no current shortage.
The health department advises staying away from wildlife, particularly animals active during daylight that are normally nocturnal, and keeping pets current on rabies vaccination. Anyone bitten or scratched should wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and contact a clinician or public health official about whether treatment is needed.
Collection dates and locations for animals that tested positive are posted on the department’s rabies data dashboard at health.ri.gov/rabies.
