A dead raccoon found in Old Town last week has tested positive for rabies, according to the Alexandria Health Department.
The animal was recovered after two people reported being bitten by a raccoon in Old Town last Tuesday. It’s not confirmed if the raccoon was responsible for one or both of the attacks, “but the location and aggressive behavior line up with how a rabid raccoon in that area might act,” AHD said in an announcement yesterday (Monday).
No other raccoon-related incidents were reported to AHD over the weekend, and the people who were bitten have received care, according to the department.
“After an animal bite or scratch, health department experts review the details of the situation to assess a person’s risk for rabies,” AHD said. “From there, we recommend whether they should get a rabies vaccine to prevent an infection. There’s no cure for rabies, so this quick case review and vaccine recommendation is very important.”
AHD continues to advise residents to be careful of wildlife and to contact Animal Control at 703-746-4444 if they see any strange animal behavior.
