DELHI - Delaware County Public Health announced April 5 that a raccoon tested positive for rabies Meredith. This is the first laboratory confirmed positive case of rabies in Delaware County in 2024.
A rabid raccoon entered a cow barn in Meredith and attacked and bit a cow.
The raccoon was dispatched and sent for testing to the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Laboratory. Laboratory test revealed rabies infection of the raccoon.
The cow that was attacked and bitten has been euthanized. There were no human exposures, and no other domestic animals were exposed to the rabid raccoon.
Once infected, rabies is a virus that has 100% fatality rate when left untreated, in mammals including humans. Public Health recommends the following precautions to protect yourself and your family from possible exposure to rabies:
• Report any sick or strange acting wildlife
• Vaccinate pets and livestock. New York State law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age. Vaccinating your domestic animal not only provides protection for the animal, but vaccinated pets act as a barrier to keep the rabies virus from spreading between wild animals and people.
• Vaccination is also recommended for livestock with frequent human contact.
• Do not feed wildlife or stray animals and discourage them from seeking food near your home.
• Do not feed strays. According to Public Health Law an owner is defined as any
person keeping, harboring, or having charge or control of or permitting any dog, cat or
domesticated ferret to remain on or be lodged or fed within such person’s house yard or premises.
• Do not approach an unknown animal, either wild or domestic, especially if it is acting in a strange or unusual manner.
• Report all animal bites and any contact with bats to the Health Department in your
county. Human rabies can be prevented after exposure by administering a series of shots.
• Keep garbage cans tightly covered and avoid storing any food outside.
• Children should be instructed to tell an adult immediately if they were bitten or scratched by any animal.
• If a pet not up to date on its rabies vaccinations comes in contact with rabid or
suspected rabid animal the pet must be quarantined for six months.
• Vaccinated pets that come in contact with rabid or suspected rabies animal must be given a booster rabies vaccination within five days of the contact.
An exposure to rabies can be fatal for a human or a pet. Be sure your dogs, cats and ferrets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Vaccinated pets serve as a buffer between rabid wildlife and man. Protect them, and you may reduce your risk of exposure to rabies.
Public Health recommends that pet owners take advantage of any of the free remaining rabies clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets in Delaware County.
• Sidney - May 6, 5:30PM-7:30 p.m., Sidney Fire Hall: 74 River St. Sidney
• Hancock - May 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Hancock Town Hall, 661 West Main St. Hancock
• Franklin - June 10, 5:30- 7:30 p.m., Franklin Fire Hall, 351 Main St., Franklin
• Arkville - June 13, 4 - 6 Pp.m. Arkville Fire Hall, 43365 State Highway 28, Arkville
• Roxbury- June 27, 4 - 6, Roxbury Highway Garage, 52508 State Highway 30,
Roxbury
• Walton - July 11, 5 - 7 p.m., Walton Highway Garage, 25091 State Highway 10,
Walton
• Delhi - August 22, 5 - 7 p.m., Delhi Fire Hall, 140 Delview Terrace Ext. Delhi
• Stamford - September 12, 5 - 7 p.m, Stamford Fire Hall, 111 Main St. Stamford
To report a suspected rabid animal call Delaware County Public Health Services at 607-832-
5200. For more information visit www.delawarecountypublichealth.com
