Aug 16, 05:13 AM

Health Officials Alert Hundreds in Dozens of States and Countries to Rabies Exposure at Grand Teton Cabins; WHO Urges Vaccinations

Health officials are working to notify hundreds of people across dozens of states and several countries who may have been exposed to rabies in bat-infested cabins at Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park over the past few months. The exposure risk arises from contact with bats inhabiting these cabins. Rabies, a fatal disease if untreated, is preventable through vaccination. The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of annual dog vaccinations and prompt access to life-saving vaccines for people bitten by animals. Meanwhile, anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin sales are gradually recovering following a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, coinciding with a rise in dog bite incidents. Additionally, marine biologists have reported an outbreak of leptospirosis affecting sea lions along the 300-mile California coast from Santa Cruz to Sonoma, which could potentially spread to humans and pets.