A dead raccoon found in a yard in the Cheat Lake area last week tested positive for rabies. It’s the second one in about a month.
The first was collected Feb. 7. Both were in the Tyrone-Avery Road area, according to a press release from the Monongalia County Health Department.
Last Tuesday, a homeowner arrived home and found a dead raccoon in the yard with his two dogs. The dogs had been contained in the yard by an invisible fence. The raccoon was sent away for testing on Wednesday and it was confirmed to be positive for rabies on Thursday.
The dogs had previously been vaccinated for rabies, but were not up to date on their shots. They were re-vaccinated and will be confined and observed for 45 days.
“This is a good reminder that people and animals can be exposed to rabies any time of year,” said Dr. Diane K. Gross, MCHD’s regional epidemiologist for a seven-county region.
Having your pets vaccinated against rabies is the law, but also, humans are more likely to interact with an unvaccinated dog or cat that has been bitten or scratched by a rabid animal than they are to interact with a raccoon or bat.
This is the second rabies-confirmed case of 2019. Last year, Monongalia County didn’t have a positive rabies case until June.
MCHD urges everyone to avoid animals they do not know, including raccoons and bats. These are wild animals that can carry rabies. This warning applies year-round.
In 2018, Monongalia County Health Department had four confirmed cases of rabies: two in raccoons that had encounters with pets and two involving cats. Three of the incidents took place in the National area and one occurred on Grafton Road. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed another five cases of rabid animals, none of which had contact with any humans or domesticated animals.
Early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to other illnesses, such as fever, headache and general weakness and discomfort. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation (an increase in saliva), difficulty swallowing and fear of water. Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms.
Raccoons are creatures of habit and live in all areas of the county, including in downtown areas. Once they make a home, they will return. Evidence of raccoon activity includes garbage cans tipped over, garbage scattered all over and raccoon droppings. Raccoons can cause damage to attics or roofs when they try to enter a home.
The best deterrent to raccoon activity is prevention. Raccoons will look for homes where food is easy to find.
MCHD urges residents to take the following measures to deter raccoons and avoid rabies:
Keep pets’ rabies vaccinations up to date.
Seal garbage cans tight. Raccoons have opposable thumbs and can remove loose or broken lids.
Don’t feed raccoons. Feed outside pets during the day and don’t leave food or water dishes outside after dark.
Control access to the home. Inspect houses thoroughly to find any holes or crevices where raccoons could enter.
Watch out for raccoons or other strange animals that are active during the day, move erratically and/or are not afraid of humans.
Scare tactics don’t work. Banging pots and pans may be a temporary raccoon deterrent, but raccoons are persistent.
Catching a baby raccoon and keeping it as a pet is against the law.
For additional information about rabies, visit MCHD’s website, monchd.org, or contact MCHD’s Environmental Health program at 304-598-5131.
