The Centers for Disease Control (hereafter referred to as CDC) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture (hereafter referred to as APHIA) jointly call on the public today (the 10th) as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, reminding people engaging in spring outings, flower viewing, picnics and other outdoor activities not to proactively contact, tease, or capture wild animals such as the ferret‑badger, in order to avoid the threat of rabies.
The APHIA explains that rabies is a zoonotic infectious disease; animals infected with rabies are usually aggressive and may approach or attack people. The agency has long monitored rabies in wildlife; in Taiwan, rabies remains confined to wild animals, with the ferret‑badger being the primary reservoir host. From 2023 (year 112) to now, up to January 2025 (year 115) a total of 2,597 cases have been monitored, with 137 confirmed cases, of which 136 were ferret‑badgers and 1 was a white‑nosed coati. The period from October to March of the following year is the peak activity season for ferret‑badgers, and the mid‑low elevation foothill and hill zones are their main activity areas. In January of this year, there were already 11 confirmed ferret‑badger cases. The public is asked to observe the “Two No’s and One Must” principle: do not abandon (release) household pets; do not contact, capture, or keep wild animals; and must regularly vaccinate dogs, cats, and captive carnivorous animals against rabies. By protecting oneself, family, and pet health, the threat of rabies can be avoided. In addition, people in areas where ferret‑badgers are commonly found should stay alert; if they encounter animals showing abnormal behavior (e.g., not fearing humans, actively attacking), erratic movements, or injured/dead ferret‑badgers, they should immediately keep distance and notify the local animal health authority for handling.
The CDC points out that the rabies virus can enter the human body through wounds caused by scratches or bites from infected animals via their saliva. If medical treatment is not promptly taken, the case‑fatality rate after onset is nearly 100%. However, seeking medical care immediately after an animal scratch or bite and receiving post‑exposure prophylaxis can significantly reduce the risk of developing the disease. Since 2002, Taiwan has recorded a total of three confirmed human rabies infections, all imported cases, occurring in 2002, 2012, and 2013 respectively, and all resulted in death.
The CDC and APHIA urge the public to avoid contacting, teasing, or capturing wild animals during outdoor activities to reduce the risk of rabies exposure. If one is accidentally scratched or bitten by a wild animal, the wound should be washed with soap and plenty of running water for at least 15 minutes, then disinfected with povidone‑iodine or 70% alcohol, and promptly seek care at a “Human Rabies Vaccine Administration Service Hospital (health center)”. If a physician assesses a risk of rabies infection, immunoglobulin should be administered promptly, and four doses of human rabies vaccine should be given according to the schedule (days 0, 3, 7, 14, with the first dose given on the day of exposure counted as day 0) to reduce the risk of disease.
The CDC and APHIA also emphasize that preventing and controlling rabies and other zoonotic diseases involves complex issues spanning human health, animal health, and ecosystems. The Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of the Interior have jointly proposed a “National Integrated Epidemic Prevention Action Plan” applicable to Taiwan, promoting public health and environmental governance under the One Health principle. Through cross‑sector collaboration and multi‑agency integration, the plan conducts disease surveillance, animal vaccination, public health education, and post‑exposure medical management, establishing a comprehensive prevention network across humans, animals, and the environment, reducing the risk of rabies transmission and ensuring public health safety.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Data compiled: Surveillance Management Office
