MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The second confirmed case of rabies in Monongalia County should be putting pet owners on alert, according to the Monongalia County Health Department.
Dr. Diane K. Gross, MCHD regional epidemiologist and veterinarian, said prevention is the best method of keeping you and your pets safe.
“Typically, your first rabies vaccine will be good for one year for your pet,” Dr. Gross said. “Then it needs to be boosted every three years.”
On Feb. 7 and Mar. 8, raccoons were collected in the Tyrone Avery Road area of Cheat Lake that tested positive for the infection. Monongalia County had just four confirmed cases in the entirety of 2018.
“While it is a fatal disease if left untreated, it can be prevented with prompt treatment,” Dr. Gross said.
Treatment must begin before a person or animal begins exhibiting signs of illness, which can sometimes take weeks, she said.
“If you are bitten by a raccoon and the raccoon ran away and we could not test it, then we would recommend that you undergo preventive treatment because we can’t be sure that that raccoon didn’t have rabies,” Dr. Gross said.
Prevention, though, remains the most effective method of rabies treatment. That doesn’t just mean staying up-to-date on vaccinations.
“Sealing your garbage cans tightly, preventing access to food for them or food sources, controlling access to your home or building by sealing them tightly, and controlling their access to your pets may be staying if they are staying outside,” Dr. Gross said.
It also means reporting to the MCHD or non-emergency responders any signs of an animal behaving strangely. A sign of rabies can often include nocturnal animals coming out during the day or exhibiting a reduced or no fear of human interaction.
As Spring nears, Dr. Gross said those interactions could become more common.
“I think in warmer months, people and pets may be spending more time outdoors and therefore can be more likely to come in contact with an infected animal,” she said. “But it is not a seasonal disease.”
Additonal information can be found here.