LA officials document first case of a rabid raccoon in more than 50 years
Four people and a dog may have been exposed to rabies from the animal, Los Angeles public health officials say Los Angeles county recently documented its first rabid raccoon in more than 50 years, and health officials are urging residents to never touch wild animals. The county’s department of public health announced in a statement this week that four people and a dog may have been exposed to the…
Los Angeles County has documented its first case of a rabid raccoon in more than half a century, prompting health officials to issue warnings to the public. Four individuals and a dog may have been exposed to the rabies-infected animal at a backyard work site in Westlake Village. The raccoon exhibited signs of illness but did not display aggressive behavior.
Rabies, a virus transmitted through a bite or scratch from an infected animal, is a severe illness that kills thousands of people annually, primarily in Africa and Asia. In the United States, the CDC reports fewer than ten deaths per year due to effective prevention measures.
Los Angeles County officials advise residents to maintain a safe distance from wildlife and report any sick, injured, or unusual behavior in animals to local animal control. They also emphasize the importance of keeping pets' vaccinations current.
Dr. Muntu Davis, the county health officer, emphasized that the presence of rabies in a raccoon serves as a reminder to never handle, touch, or feed wild animals, even if they appear healthy. The four individuals and the dog who may have been exposed to rabies are currently undergoing follow-up care, including a series of vaccines. The dog, which was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination, is currently "doing well" while in quarantine.
The origin of the rabies variant in the raccoon is still under investigation, but officials suspect it may have originated from a bat. The county has not recorded a rabid raccoon since 1973 and the last confirmed case, aside from bats, was a skunk in 2014.
This year, Los Angeles County has witnessed a surge in rabid bat cases, with a total of 69 documented cases, the highest ever recorded. Bats infected with rabies were found in every region of the county, and nearly a third of all bats tested for rabies were infected. The public health department noted that rabid bat detections have been steadily increasing over the past decade in the county.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
