The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Advisory regarding national increases in reported human exposures to rabies vector species, increased demand for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (rPEP), and errors in rPEP administration.
The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) Laboratory received a record number of requests for animal rabies testing in August 2026, exceeding its capacity for timely processing of specimens. Our laboratory has placed temporary restrictions on animal rabies testing to prioritize timely testing for higher-risk species (e.g., bats, but not dogs and cats). These adjustments are expected to further increase demand for rPEP, making proper application and administration of rPEP critical to ensure that rabies biologics remain readily available.
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Reports of measles (confirmed or suspected) or rabies must be made to the IDOH Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention Division at 317-233-7125 or 317-233-1325 after hours.