Raccoons captured test positive for rabies

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Photo Credit: (MGN Online)

Michael Delehanty, Contributor

PITTSBURGH — The Allegheny County Health Department has confirmed that two more raccoons have tested positive for rabies.

The first case was confirmed on Feb. 15 when the raccoon was captured near the 1500-block of Glencoe Avenue in Greentree Borough.

The second case was reported on Feb. 20 at the intersection of Maryland Avenue and Westbury Road in North Versailles Township.

County residents are reminded to avoid stray and wild animals, even if they appear healthy, to avoid exposure to rabies.

Rabies is a virus transmitted by an animal bite or scratch, and exposures due to a bite or scratch is almost always fatal when left untreated.

Any individual who is bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed to saliva from a stray or any other animal should immediately cleanse the contact area with soap and water, seek emergency medical treatment and call the Allegheny Health Department at 412-687-2243 to report the incident.

This is the fourth confirmed case of rabies in 2019. There have been three raccoons and one bat that have tested positive.