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The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department announced that a raccoon has tested positive for rabies in Ohio County.
According to the department, the raccoon was found along Shanghai Murray Road in Ohio County. It was collected by county health department staff from a private property area on Monday and the positive result was confirmed on Tuesday.
This is the second laboratory confirmed animal rabies case in Ohio County, the department said. Additional cases have also been reported in southern portion of Brooke County.
The department warned residents of Ohio County to be wary of animals acting strangely or aggressively, and also reminded them to keep their pet's vaccinations up to date.
Rabies is a virus capable of infecting warm-blooded animals. Rabies mainly affects the brain. The disease is common in wildlife in North America, notably in bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes. There have not been any naturally occurring cases identified in birds and it is extremely rare in rodents. The disease is usually spread by the bite or scratch of an infected animal. The virus is transmitted through the saliva. Rabies is a virus that if left untreated can be fatal.
Most exposures occur because people don't consider the risk of rabies, the department said. Exposures occur through contact with wildlife or with domestic animals exposed to rabid wildlife. Therefore, residents should avoid raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats and stray or unfamiliar dogs and cats. In addition, wild species, including wild/domestic crossbreeds should not be kept as pets.
The health department urged residents not to ground feed any animals, both domestic and wild animals, especially in residential areas. Residents should also control and secure residential garbage waste in and around homes and businesses.