A raccoon found in Poquoson recently has tested positive for rabies, health officials said.
The Peninsula Health District said the raccoon was found in the area of the 500 block of City Hall Avenue in Poquoson, the department said in a news release.
Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by the raccoon or had contact with the animal’s salvia should contact the Virginia Department of Health at the Peninsula Health District-Newport News Environmental Health Center at 757-954-7340.
After hours, those exposed to any questionable raccoon or animal should contact Newport News/Poquoson Animal Control at 757-595-7387.
Exposures can also include direct contact between a pet and the rabid animal.
Rabies is a fatal disease that is carried my mammals. It has been on the Virginia Peninsula since the mid-1980s.
Residents should vaccinate their pets, report all exposures to animals such as bites and scratches to local health officials, and enjoy wildlife from a distance.
Feeding wild animals is discouraged.
