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• Robert Parker, public information officer, 540-381-7100, x151 or 540-580-2960

RABID ANIMALS CONFIRMED IN BOTETOURT COUNTY VIRGINIA

(ROANOKE, Virginia) – Officials from the Virginia Department of Health have confirmed a significant local increase recently in rabid animal cases. In Botetourt County 14 rabid animals have been confirmed so far in 2010, as compared to four rabid animals in 2009. Eight of the 14 animals confirmed in Botetourt County were confirmed in November, as follows:   

• November 30, 2010 – Four skunks were confirmed positive for rabies – three skunks near the intersection of Breckinridge Mill Rd. and Big Spring Rd., Fincastle and one skunk in the 300 block of Ridgeway Cir., Troutville.
• November 26, 2010 – One cat was confirmed positive for rabies in the 500 block of Beaver Dam Rd., Buchanan.
• November 23, 2010 – One skunk was confirmed positive for rabies in the 300 block of Deer Haven Dr., Blue Ridge.
• November 19, 2010 – One skunk was confirmed positive for rabies in 2400 block of Breckinridge Mill Rd., Fincastle.
• November 5, 2010 – One skunk was confirmed positive for rabies in the area of Cherry Ln., Blue Ridge.

Flyers are being distributed in the involved areas.

A community rabies clinic will be held this Saturday, Dec. 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Botetourt Veterinary Hospital (5598 Roanoke Rd., Troutville – near Fincastle) for a cost of $10. Pet owners should bring records of previous rabies vaccinations. For more information on this clinic, contact Sgt. W. D. Horton with the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office at 540-473-8230.

VDH reminds all residents to help prevent the spread of rabies in the following ways:

• AVOID contact with wild animals and domestic animals you do not know.
• REPORT unusual acting animals.
• VACCINATE all your dogs, cats and ferrets and keep their vaccinations current.
• CALL your doctor and the local health department if you are exposed, or your veterinarian and local animal control if your pet is exposed.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. It is preventable in animals through vaccinations, but is almost always fatal to both animals and humans if left untreated. Exposure to rabies is considered any time a bite, scratch or other circumstance where saliva or central nervous system tissue from a potentially rabid animal enters an open, fresh wound or comes in contact with a mucous membrane by entering the eye, mouth, or nose.

Citizens should not approach or touch wild animals, and should report any abnormal behavior involving wild animals. All animal bites and rabies exposures (from wild and domestic animals) must be reported to the Botetourt County Health Department at 540-473-8240 or Botetourt County Animal Control at 540-473-8230 or 911

For more information concerning rabies, visit the Virginia Department of Health’s Rabies Control and Prevention web site at www.vdh.virginia.gov/epi/rabies or call the Botetourt County Health Department at 540-473-8240.