Rabid Raccoon Found in York County

By Amber Lester Kennedy Friday, June 10, 2011

A raccoon found in the Meadowview Drive area of Yorktown has tested positive for rabies.

Meadowview Drive is located just off Oriana Road, a block off of Route 17. Anyone who thinks they or their pet might have been exposed to this animal is asked to contact the Health Department at (757) 594-7340. Exposure includes bites, scratches or contact with saliva by open wound, eyes, nose or mouth. After regular business hours, call local Animal Control at (757) 809-3601.

Rabies is a fatal, but preventable disease carried by mammals that has been present on the Peninsula since the 1980s. The office of Environmental Health Services will contact residents of the immediate area where the raccoon was found, along with any civic or homeowner’s association that serves the community.

To prevent the spread of rabies, vaccinate your pets, report all exposures to any animals to your doctor and the local health department and enjoy wildlife from a distance.