Rabies, Possible Exposure

Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. It can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife, and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start.

Rabies is monitored to prevent and control outbreaks.

In 2024, the rate per 100,000 of Rabies, Possible Exposure in Alachua County was 46.9 compared to Florida at 32.3. The line graph shows change over time when there are at least three years of data.

Alachua County is in the third quartile for this measure. This means that relative to other counties in Florida, there are less Rabies, Possible Exposure in about one half of the counties, and more in about one quarter of the counties.

The map illustrates county data by quartile. A quartile map is presented when there are at least 51 counties with data for this measure.

Links: Healthy People 2030|Other Resource

Measure Type
10 Year Report
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Alachua County

Florida

CountyYearCount/Rate

Year

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FLHealthCharts.gov is provided by the Florida Department of Health, Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management.
Data Source:Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology

10/9/2026 1:26:41 PM

Data Note(s)

Reports for reportable disease data are produced weekly, monthly, and annually. To access these reports, visit <a href="http://www.FloridaHealth.gov/SurveillancePublications" target="_blank">http://www.FloridaHealth.gov/SurveillancePublications</a>. More detailed information on interpreting data can be found in the introduction section of the annual reports (<a href="http://www.Floridahealth.gov/MorbidityStatisticsReport" target="_blank">http://www.Floridahealth.gov/MorbidityStatisticsReport</a>). For questions, please contact the Bureau of Epidemiology at (850) 245-4401.
This disease became reportable prior to 1992. This disease does not have a probable case classification. Counts and rates include confirmed cases of Rabies, Possible Exposure (Merlin code 07101).
Rates based on less than 20 cases are not reliable and should be interpreted with caution.
Data presented here are from Merlin, Florida's web-based reportable disease surveillance system. Note that any data prior to 1992 are not maintained in Merlin and should be interpreted with caution.
Data in this report are aggregated by the date the case was reported to the Bureau of Epidemiology, Florida Department of Health. Cases are assigned to Florida counties based on the county of residence at the time of the disease identification, regardless of where they became ill or were hospitalized, diagnosed, or exposed.
This is primary, quantitative data.
All population-based rates are calculated using July 1 Florida population estimates from the Florida Legislature, Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

Chart will display if there are at least three years of data.
Multi-year counts are a sum of the selected years, not an average.
Quartiles are calculated when data are available for at least 51 counties.

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Rabies, Possible Exposure, Rate Per 100,000 Population, 2024

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Rabies, Possible Exposure, Rate Per 100,000 Population, Single Year
	Alachua				Florida
Data Year	Count	Denom	Rate	MOV	Count	Denom	Rate	MOV
2024	140	298,378	46.9^*	7.8	7,453	23,058,197	32.3	0.7
2023	124	291,459	42.5^*	7.5	6,630	22,685,583	29.2	0.7
2022	115	290,623	39.6^*	7.2	4,831	22,329,178	21.6	0.6
2021	28	275,435	10.2^*	3.8	3,751	22,005,587	17.0	0.5
2020	25	270,405	9.2^*	3.6	3,458	21,640,766	16.0	0.5
2019	49	266,649	18.4	5.1	4,398	21,268,553	20.7	0.6
2018	85	263,753	32.2^*	6.9	4,083	20,957,705	19.5	0.6
2017	73	259,349	28.1^*	6.5	3,478	20,555,733	16.9	0.6
2016	66	257,478	25.6^*	6.2	3,302	20,231,092	16.3	0.6
2015	66	255,631	25.8^*	6.2	3,364	19,897,762	16.9	0.6
2014	61	251,760	24.2^*	6.1	2,995	19,579,871	15.3	0.5
2013	61	248,526	24.5^*	6.2	2,721	19,314,396	14.1	0.5
2012	68	246,893	27.5^*	6.5	2,371	19,118,938	12.4	0.5
2011	54	247,151	21.8^*	5.8	2,410	18,941,742	12.7	0.5
2010	59	247,669	23.8^*	6.1	2,114	18,820,280	11.2	0.5
2009	59	246,489	23.9^*	6.1	1,853	18,711,844	9.9	0.5
2008	33	244,664	13.5^*	4.6	1,618	18,636,837	8.7	0.4
2007	35	242,215	14.4^*	4.8	1,474	18,500,958	8.0	0.4
2006	23	238,704	9.6	3.9	1,244	18,237,596	6.8	0.4
2005	38	233,859	16.2^*	5.2	1,215	17,876,663	6.8	0.4

10/9/2026 1:26:44 PM

Data Note(s)

Reports for reportable disease data are produced weekly, monthly, and annually. To access these reports, visit <a href="http://www.FloridaHealth.gov/SurveillancePublications" target="_blank">http://www.FloridaHealth.gov/SurveillancePublications</a>. More detailed information on interpreting data can be found in the introduction section of the annual reports (<a href="http://www.Floridahealth.gov/MorbidityStatisticsReport" target="_blank">http://www.Floridahealth.gov/MorbidityStatisticsReport</a>). For questions, please contact the Bureau of Epidemiology at (850) 245-4401.
This disease became reportable prior to 1992. This disease does not have a probable case classification. Counts and rates include confirmed cases of Rabies, Possible Exposure (Merlin code 07101).
Rates based on less than 20 cases are not reliable and should be interpreted with caution.
Data presented here are from Merlin, Florida's web-based reportable disease surveillance system. Note that any data prior to 1992 are not maintained in Merlin and should be interpreted with caution.
Data in this report are aggregated by the date the case was reported to the Bureau of Epidemiology, Florida Department of Health. Cases are assigned to Florida counties based on the county of residence at the time of the disease identification, regardless of where they became ill or were hospitalized, diagnosed, or exposed.
This is primary, quantitative data.
All population-based rates are calculated using July 1 Florida population estimates from the Florida Legislature, Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

Chart will display if there are at least three years of data.
Multi-year counts are a sum of the selected years, not an average.
Quartiles are calculated when data are available for at least 51 counties.
MOV - Measure of Variability: Probable range of values resulting from random fluctuations in the number of events. Not calculated when numerator is below 5 or denominator is below 20, or count or rate is suppressed. The MOV is useful for comparing rates to a goal or standard. For example, if the absolute difference between the county rate and the statewide rate is less than the MOV, the county rate is not significantly different from the statewide rate (alpha level = 0.05). When the absolute difference between the county rate and the statewide rate is greater than the MOV, the county rate is significantly different from the statewide rate. MOV should not be used to determine if the rates of two different counties, or the county rates for two different years, are statistically significantly different.
Denom - abbreviated for denominator.
Population estimates are not available for persons whose county of residence is unknown. Given this, the denominator and associated rate are not available.
* - Indicates the county rate is statistically significantly different from the statewide rate.

FLHealthCharts.gov is provided by the Florida Department of Health, Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management.
Data Source: Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology

10/9/2026 1:26:40 PM

Data Note(s)

Reports for reportable disease data are produced weekly, monthly, and annually. To access these reports, visit http://www.FloridaHealth.gov/SurveillancePublications. More detailed information on interpreting data can be found in the introduction section of the annual reports (http://www.Floridahealth.gov/MorbidityStatisticsReport). For questions, please contact the Bureau of Epidemiology at (850) 245-4401.
This disease became reportable prior to 1992. This disease does not have a probable case classification. Counts and rates include confirmed cases of Rabies, Possible Exposure (Merlin code 07101).
Rates based on less than 20 cases are not reliable and should be interpreted with caution.
Data presented here are from Merlin, Florida's web-based reportable disease surveillance system. Note that any data prior to 1992 are not maintained in Merlin and should be interpreted with caution.
Data in this report are aggregated by the date the case was reported to the Bureau of Epidemiology, Florida Department of Health. Cases are assigned to Florida counties based on the county of residence at the time of the disease identification, regardless of where they became ill or were hospitalized, diagnosed, or exposed.
This is primary, quantitative data.
All population-based rates are calculated using July 1 Florida population estimates from the Florida Legislature, Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

Chart will display if there are at least three years of data.
Multi-year counts are a sum of the selected years, not an average.
Quartiles are calculated when data are available for at least 51 counties.
MOV - Measure of Variability: Probable range of values resulting from random fluctuations in the number of events. Not calculated when numerator is below 5 or denominator is below 20, or count or rate is suppressed. The MOV is useful for comparing rates to a goal or standard. For example, if the absolute difference between the county rate and the statewide rate is less than the MOV, the county rate is not significantly different from the statewide rate (alpha level = 0.05). When the absolute difference between the county rate and the statewide rate is greater than the MOV, the county rate is significantly different from the statewide rate. MOV should not be used to determine if the rates of two different counties, or the county rates for two different years, are statistically significantly different.
Denom - abbreviated for denominator.
Population estimates are not available for persons whose county of residence is unknown. Given this, the denominator and associated rate are not available.
* - Indicates the county rate is statistically significantly different from the statewide rate.