Possible rabid raccoon found in yard of Westlake Village home; dog, 4 workers possibly exposed

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. (KABC) — For the first time in more than 60 years, Los Angeles County has recorded a suspected case of rabies in a raccoon.

When the raccoon was found in a Westlake Village yard, it appeared sick but not aggressive toward people, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The raccoon is now in quarantine and test results are pending.

Four people at a nearby construction site may have been exposed to the raccoon and are receiving recommended follow-up rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, a timely series of vaccines.

A dog may also have been exposed, but is up to date on its rabies vaccine, according to the Department of Public Health.

The last confirmed rabid raccoon in LA County was detected in 1973. In that case, the raccoon had the skunk variant (strain) of the disease. This particular strain has not been detected in the county since 1979.

The last animal other than bats confirmed to have rabies in the county was a skunk infected with the bat variant of rabies in Long Beach in 2014.

The rabies variant the Westlake Village raccoon is infected with has not yet been determined, although health officials believe it likely came from a bat.

So far this year, a record 70 rabid bats have been confirmed in Los Angeles County.

Health officials remind the public: never touch a wild animal and make sure your animals are vaccinated.