STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) – A racoon collected in Staunton by the Central Shenandoah Health District has tested positive for rabies.
The raccoon was found Monday, Dec. 29, in a residential area west of Thornrose Cemetery between Gypsy Hill Park and West Beverley Street, according to a release from CSHD. There are currently no human exposures to the raccoon, the release added.
“While this raccoon no longer presents a threat, it is a reminder to get your pets vaccinated for rabies and to keep their vaccinations up to date,” Jason Weakley, environmental health manager at CSHD, said in the release. “Protecting animals from rabies protects both them and the people around them.”
Rabies is a disease linked to a virus that attacks the nervous system and can be deadly if not treated properly, CSHD advised. Anyone with information about a potential exposure to the rabid raccoon through a bite, scratch or contact with saliva in an open wound or through the eyes, nose or mouth should contact the Staunton-Augusta Health Department at 540-332-7830. Exposures can also include direct contact between your pet and the rabid animal, CSHD added.
If you are bitten by a wild or stray animal, CSHD advised to wash the wound thoroughly with warm, soapy water and contact animal control, a healthcare provider or the Staunton-Augusta Health Department.
CSHD also shared the following rabies prevention guidelines to avoid exposures:
Do not feed stray animals.Avoid wild animals, especially raccoons, bats, foxes, and skunks.Feed your pets indoors and do not let them wander.Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies and their shots are up to date. By law, dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies.Teach children to avoid contact with wild animals and pets they are not familiar with.Do not handle sick, injured or dead animals. If you see a wild animal that appears to be ill, injured or orphaned, contact the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for guidance.Keep wild animals out of homes by capping chimneys with screens and block openings in attics, cellars and porches.Ensure trash cans have tight fitting lids.
After hours, for either human or animal exposure concerns, CSHD said to contact the Virginia Department of Health at 1-866-531-3068. More information about rabies can be found on the VDH website.
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