MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The primary case of rabies in 2024 has been confirmed from a raccoon killed on property close to the Monongalia-Preston county line.
The Monongalia County Well being Division stated the proprietor of the property off Gladesville Highway in Independence discovered the racoon preventing with a barn cat.
The raccoon was killed and examined. Well being division officers stated it’s been confirmed as rabies.
Monongalia County had 4 of West Virginia’s 46 reported circumstances of rabies final 12 months, in keeping with the annual West Virginia Animal Rabies Surveillance Report from the state.
Rabies stories got here from 18 of the state’s 55 counties. 4 was the best variety of circumstances in any of the counties and that quantity was additionally reported in Greenbrier, Hampshire and Mineral counties.
West Virginia regulation requires canine and cats to be stored up-to-date on rabies vaccinations. If an unvaccinated pet is attacked by a rabid animal, euthanasia is often really useful.
“Vaccinating your pets additionally helps to maintain you and your loved ones protected, in addition to the neighborhood,” Todd Powroznik, program supervisor of MCHD Environmental Well being, stated. “We additionally suggest spaying and neutering pets with the intention to hold the variety of stray animals low.”