This summer has seen an increase in rabies cases in one Finger Lakes county.
The Seneca County Health Department reports three confirmed cases involving two raccoons and one fox, leading to seven people requiring medical treatment and rabies vaccinations. Additionally, four domestic animals received rabies booster shots and treatment.
Rabies, a viral disease, can be transmitted to humans or animals through the bite or scratch of an infected animal or bat. The disease is fatal if medical care isn’t sought before symptoms appear. If you or your pet have been exposed to an animal that could carry rabies, including wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, feral cats, or bats, contact the Seneca County Environmental Health Division immediately for guidance at 315-539-1945 during normal business hours. After business hours, please call the Seneca County E-911 Center and ask for the Environmental Health personnel on call. If you discover a bat in your home and you believe you or your pet may have been exposed, do not release or discard the bat, until you have discussed the situation with Seneca County Environmental Health
To help protect residents and their domesticated pets, the county will hold a free rabies vaccination clinic on August 27th at 6:30 at the Ovid Fire Department. Pre-registration is required and you can do so by clicking here.
A second free clinic will be held on October 25th at the Waterloo Fire Department.
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