A beaver at Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland tested positive for rabies after biting a 13-year-old boy on July 26, 2026. The boy was hospitalized. The Frederick County Health Department has closed the swimming area and is advising the public to consult a healthcare professional if they believe they have been exposed. Beavers are incidental hosts of rabies in the region, and the raccoon variant of the rabies virus is the dominant enzootic strain.
Approximately 4,000 cases of animal rabies are reported annually in the U.S. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is nearly 100% effective if administered before the onset of symptoms.
