[Archived] Rabid Raccoon Killed by Two Dogs

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

For More Information Contact:
Bob Custard 703.838.4400, Ext.254
Environmental Health Manager
Alexandria Health Department

RABID RACCOON KILLED BY TWO DOGS IN ALEXANDRIA

A raccoon that was killed by two dogs on Jan. 14, 2003, on Seminary Road in Alexandria, was infected with the rabies virus. Testing by the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services in Richmond yesterday confirmed that the raccoon was rabid.

The dogs that killed the raccoon had current rabies vaccinations and, as a precaution, have been revaccinated. As an added precaution, their owner will also confine the dogs for observation. Both dogs were Labrador retrievers.

Rabies has been widespread in the raccoon population in the Northern Virginia area for over ten years. However, this is the first rabies positive raccoon found in Alexandria in over a year. "This incident should reemphasize the need for all pet owners to properly vaccinate their animals as required by state law and City ordinance", said Roger Townsend, Animal Control Supervisor for the City of Alexandria. "If these dogs had not been vaccinated, we unfortunately would have been forced to euthanize them or put them in strict isolation for six months,” Townsend added.

"Rabies in humans is a fatal disease,” said Dr. Charles Konigsberg, Jr., Director of Health for the City of Alexandria. "To protect themselves from rabies, citizens should not feed or touch wild animals and should be sure their pets are vaccinated,” said Konigsberg.

Bob Custard, Environmental Health Manager for the Alexandria Health Department, noted that rabies is commonly found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. "It is especially important that people not attract wildlife to their yards by feeding their pets outdoors,” Custard said. "Storing garbage in animal-proof metal or plastic trash cans rather than in plastic bags will also reduce the number of wild animals attracted to your yard,” Custard said.

Alexandria residents who are having problems with wild animals in their yard or whose pets have been exposed to wild animals should call the Alexandria Animal Welfare League at 703.838.5050.

# # #