Human rabies is a preventable disease that is nearly always fatal.
CDC has conducted surveillance of animal and human rabies since 1961. Case reports are submitted on a voluntary basis and therefore represent only a fraction of the true incidence of animal rabies in the United States. Methods Information in this report is based on reports collected by the health officers of the various states, territories, or other jurisdictions of the United States. A standardized form, the Monthly Report of Laboratory Confirmed Cases of Rabies, is used. Included are the county of origin, reporting month, number of animals examined, and species of animals examined.