Los Angeles officials document first case of rabid raccoon in more than 50 years | Los Angeles

Los Angeles County recently recorded its first rabid raccoon in more than 50 years, and health officials are urging residents to never touch wild animals.

The county public health department announced in a news release this week that four people and a dog may have been exposed to the animal at a construction site in the town of Westlake Village. The raccoon appeared to be in poor health but was not aggressive.

Rabies is spread by a bite or scratch from an infected animal. It kills tens of thousands of people each year, mainly in Africa and Asia, and is almost completely fatal once symptoms appear. The United States sees fewer than 10 deaths per year “thanks to strong prevention efforts,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Los Angeles County health officials told residents they should “always keep a safe distance from wildlife and contact your local animal control if you encounter an animal that appears sick, injured or behaving unusual” and make sure animals are up to date on their vaccinations.

“Detecting rabies in a raccoon is an important reminder to never touch, handle or feed wild animals, even if they appear healthy,” said Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis.

The group of people potentially exposed to rabies in Los Angeles County were receiving follow-up care, which includes a series of vaccinations. The dog was up to date with his rabies vaccine and is “doing well” in quarantine, according to the Department of Health.

It is not yet clear which variant of rabies the raccoon was infected with, although authorities believe it was likely rabies originating from a bat. The county hasn’t had a documented case of a rabid raccoon since 1973, according to the public health department, and the last known animal, aside from bats, to have rabies was a skunk in 2014.

This year, the county experienced the highest number of rabid bats on record, the public health department announced last week, with 69 documented cases. The sick animals were found in all areas of the county and nearly a third of all bats tested for rabies were infected.

“Rabid bat detections can vary from year to year, but Los Angeles County has seen a consistent upward trend for more than a decade,” the public health department said.