Lewis County Public Health and New York DOH confirm rabid Raccoon case in Martinsburg

LOWVILLE- A Raccoon tested positively recently for rabies in Lewis County. Test results were confirmed by New York's Department of Health.

According to the Public Health Office, the Raccoon was discovered in the town of Martinsburg. There was no known human or animal exposure and or contact with the rabid animal.   

Over the last several weeks, there appears to be quite a number of rabid critters that have been located throughout the North Country. 

Lewis County Public Health reminds that rabies is a very serious and deadly disease affecting the central nervous system.

It can be transmitted from infected animals to humans if they are exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of a rabid animal through a bite or scratch.

Public health officials say it is also possible for a person to have contact with a bat and not know it while asleep, therefore all bats that are found in the room of a sleeping person or small child should be captured and tested for rabies. 

In May, Lewis County Public Health will be hosting their annual spring rabies vaccination clinics at these following locations:

May 4 – Constableville Fire Hall 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

May 5 – Osceola Town Barn 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

May 5 – West Leyden Fire Hall 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

May 6 – Copenhagen Fire Hall 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

May 11 – Harrisville Fire Hall 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

May 13 – New Bremen Fire Hall 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

May 18 – Lyons Falls Fire Hall 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

May 20 – Lowville Town Barn 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

For more information about rabies, call Lewis County Public Health at 315-376-5453.

NYS DEC image.