Gouverneur-area raccoon tests positive for rabies, county’s 29th case

A raccoon in the Gouverneur area tested positive for rabies, bringing St. Lawrence County’s total to 29 cases this year, county officials said. The New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Laboratory notified the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department of the positive test.

Rabies is a deadly virus spread through the saliva or brain tissue of infected animals, most commonly through bites or scratches. Raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes are among the wild animals most likely to carry the virus. Cats and dogs can also become infected after contact with wildlife.

The St. Lawrence County Public Health Department advises residents not to feed, touch or adopt wild animals or stray pets. Residents should keep pets and livestock current on rabies vaccinations, including indoor cats; supervise pets outdoors; feed them indoors; and secure garbage, compost, birdseed and pet food.

People should wash bite or scratch wounds immediately and seek medical attention after exposure to an animal suspected of having rabies. Animal bites or possible rabies exposures should be reported to the department at (315) 386-2325. Anyone whose pet or livestock may have been exposed should contact a veterinarian and the Public Health Department immediately.

If a bat is found inside a home or other occupied space, residents should avoid direct contact, safely capture it in a container and contact the department. Keeping the bat for testing can help determine whether an exposure occurred and whether treatment is necessary.

The 2027 schedule for free rabies clinics is expected to be posted on the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department website in February. Residents can also contact the department at (315) 386-2325 for rabies prevention information.