Updated Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Guidance: VDH Health Advisory

Animal rabies cases are rising in Vermont. So far in 2025, 36 animals have tested positive – mainly raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes. Most cases are in Orleans, Chittenden, and Franklin Counties, but have been reported throughout the state.

Rabies is fatal to humans if medical care is not given before symptoms start, but rabies postexposure prophylaxis (rPEP) is costly, complex, and in limited supply. Please click here for recommended actions when considering post-exposure treatment

Updated EEE and WNV Testing Procedures from the Department of Health and the Agency of Agriculture/ Updated Information on Mosquito-borne Virus Risk in Vermont

Mosquito-transmitted arboviruses that can potentially cause severe disease in humans were detected in mosquitoes: West Nile virus (WNV) in St. Albans and Stowe, and Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) in Rutland, Marshfield, and Whitingham. Mosquito surveillance results are posted weekly to the Vermont Department of Health website during mosquito season.  Updated clinical guidance for arboviral neuroinvasive can be found by clicking on this link: Clinical Guidance

The updated procedure for testing was published by the DoH and Ag Agency this month.  To review the procedures, please visit the VVMA Resource Page on Animal Health in Vermont.

The CDC is seeking help in learning more about backyard poultry owners and their flocks in an effort to improve bird flu prevention activities. Please help by spreading the word and distributing the link to this anonymous survey to backyard flock owners

The anonymous survey asks about:

• Characteristics of backyard flock owners, their families, and their flocks.
• Knowledge of H5 bird flu and signs and symptoms of H5 bird flu in birds and humans.
• Perceived risk of and concern about H5 bird flu to their backyard flock and themselves/families.
• Attitudes towards reporting sick or dead birds and protective measures like vaccination of their flock.
• Practices they use to protect their flock and themselves from H5 bird flu.

Please go to https://redcap.link/backyardflock to access the survey

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT RABIES FROM USDA WILDLIFE SERVICES

In Vermont, USDA works with the Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets, to distribute oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits targeting the raccoon rabies virus variant (RRVV) and conducts enhanced rabies surveillance (ERS) in northern Vermont to monitor for expansion of raccoon rabies. Close to 10 million ORV baits have been distributed by USDA in Vermont since 1997 to protect people, pets, livestock, and wildlife from this deadly disease. The continued collection and testing of USDA samples is critical to the ongoing success of the ERS effort to eliminate RRVV from Vermont.

Due to the ongoing expansion of rabies into northern Vermont, please report any dead or strange acting raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, or bobcats to the USDA Vermont Rabies Hotline (1-800-4-RABIES; 800-472-2437), especially from thecounties of Grand Isle, Franklin, Lamoille, Orleans, and Essex. Vermont veterinarians are a critical partner for rabies surveillance, since wildlife that can carry rabies may be reported during pet exposure evaluations.

For more information on rabies in Vermont, and for guidance on pet exposures to rabies and animal submissions for rabies testing, please visit: https://www.healthvermont.gov/disease-control/zoonotic-diseases/rabies