The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) recently reported the first case of animal rabies in New Mexico in 2026: a bobcat in Sierra County.
While it’s true the rabies virus—when untreated—causes a fatal brain infection in humans, New Mexicans need not be terribly afraid of the virus, as long as they take a few important precautions, said Meghan Brett, MD, an infectious diseases physician and the hospital epidemiologist at The University of New Mexico Hospital.
“Humans get exposed when they get a bite from an animal,” Brett explained. “That’s the most common exposure, and most often it’s wild animals. It’s usually not domestic animals like cats and dogs. And it’s something that can lead to a brain infection, which is very scary—I appreciate that. Once you get the infection, it is fatal.”
According to NMDOH, a recent pause in human ante-mortem rabies testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not affect the department’s day-to-day operations. NMDOH’s Scientific Laboratory in Albuquerque performs all rabies testing and strain typing. There are no changes to animal testing.
Fortunately, vaccinating pets, avoiding wild animals and seeking medical care quickly after an animal bite will significantly reduce a person’s risk of getting a rabies infection. That’s according to Brett and NMDOH.
The fact that it is fatal when it causes an infection is scary, yet I think it’s important to know that people’s actual risk for acquiring it and the fact that we have post-exposure prophylaxis and vaccination really does help reduce the risk profoundly.
– Meghan Brett, MD, Infectious Diseases Physician & Hospital Epidemiologist, UNM Hospital
The first rabies precaution New Mexicans should take is to get pet dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies. This is required by New Mexico law (7.4.2 NMAC). Luckily, because of this mandate, domesticated animals like dogs and cats are much less likely to carry rabies, Brett said.
Next, people should be wary of wild animals, such as bats, skunks and foxes, especially if they are acting strangely—and that includes appearing to be tame, Brett said. Wild animals are much more likely to carry rabies than domesticated ones, she said.
Brett also said to be extra cautious when traveling in other countries, where pet vaccination against rabies may not be required.
Finally, anyone who gets bitten by an animal or comes into close contact with a bat should seek medical attention as soon as possible, Brett said. They can also contact NMDOH after a bite or bat exposure to see if they might need medications to prevent rabies infection. A health provider in collaboration with NMDOH will help determine if the person needs to be treated for a possible rabies exposure. And the person may want to call animal control to capture the animal.
New Mexico Department of Health Helpline
Phone: 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773)
Text: NMDOH (66364)
Medications given to prevent rabies are collectively called post-exposure prophylaxis, and they include rabies immune globulin and the rabies vaccine, Brett said. Most hospitals, whether in urgent care or the emergency department, have access to these treatments.
“Not only should the wound be washed out and cleaned, but also you talk about rabies immune globulin, and that actually helps bind to any rabies virus that’s there,” she said. “Then, the vaccine helps boost your immune response, also to help reduce the risk for rabies infection. You have to do that, typically, for four doses after. So, on the first day, you would get the rabies immune globulin and a vaccine, and then you would need three follow-up doses after that, typically.”
Brett said getting the rabies vaccine is not routinely recommended in the U.S. for most people. Overall, she said she is typically more worried about other infections like the flu than rabies, because most people are unlikely to encounter rabies.
Dogs and cats in New Mexico need to be vaccinated against rabies, according to New Mexico law.
“The good news is it’s uncommon,” she said. “So, that helps me sleep better at night. And I think the scenarios in which people are actually at risk are low.”
Even though people do get exposed sometimes, many people receive appropriate medications and vaccines after exposure, so the number of humans with rabies is generally fewer than 10 per year in the U.S., Brett said.
“The fact that it is fatal when it causes an infection is scary, yet I think it’s important to know that people’s actual risk for acquiring it and the fact that we have post-exposure prophylaxis and vaccination really does help reduce the risk profoundly,” she said.