St. Lawrence County reports 24 confirmed animal rabies cases this year

St. Lawrence County has recorded 24 confirmed rabies cases in animals so far this year, compared with one case in all of last year. The county has conducted 171 rabies tests this year, up from 145 during all of last year.

Animals identified as rabid included bats, cats, raccoons, a skunk and a bobcat. County Public Health recommends keeping pets current on vaccinations and reporting animal bites or possible rabies exposures to the department. Public health officials said the increase may involve multiple factors, including virus variations and increased testing, and that rabies cases are also rising across the United States.