1st dog rabies case reported in decades

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) reported recently on December 19, 2025, a dog living in a Chicago household was confirmed to be positive for rabies. The source of the dog’s rabies infection is still under investigation.

This is the first dog to test positive for rabies in Cook County since before 1964 and the first in Illinois since 1994.

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is working closely with Cook County Animal and Rabies Control (ARC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health to investigate the case and assess potential human and animal exposures. As of December 22, CDPH or another local health department has recommended rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for 13 individuals. ARC is notifying pet owners who had contact with the dog. The risk to the general public and their pets is low.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. It is present primarily in the saliva, brain tissue and spinal fluid of a rabid animal and can be transmitted through bites or non-bites. Non-bite exposures of concern include saliva or nervous system tissue entering the mucous membranes (e.g. a dog licking a person in the face) or broken skin (e.g. licking of hands with open wounds).