LA officials document first case of a rabid raccoon in more than 50 years
Summary
Los Angeles County reported its first case of a rabid raccoon in over 50 years. Four people and a dog may have been exposed to the animal, and health officials are advising residents to avoid contact with wild animals and keep pets vaccinated.Key Facts
- The rabid raccoon was found in Westlake Village, a city in Los Angeles County.
- Four people and one dog may have come into contact with the raccoon.
- Rabies spreads through bites or scratches from infected animals and is almost always fatal without early treatment.
- The dog exposed to the raccoon was vaccinated and is quarantined and doing well.
- Los Angeles County has not had a rabid raccoon case since 1973.
- Officials suspect the raccoon’s rabies may have come from a bat variant.
- This year, Los Angeles County recorded a record 69 cases of rabid bats, a rising trend over the last decade.
- Health officials remind people never to touch wild animals and to report sick or unusual wildlife to animal control.
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