Raccoon found in Bethel Park tests positive for rabies

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Raccoon found in Bethel Park tests positive for rabies

Paul Guggenheimer | Tuesday, September 24, 2019 5:39 p.m.

A raccoon brought to the Allegheny County Health Department has tested positive for rabies. The raccoon was spotted along Villahaven Drive in Bethel Park.

This is the 21st rabid animal reported in Allegheny County in 2019, including 16 raccoons, four bats and one cat.

Rabies is a virus transmitted by an animal bite or scratch and left untreated it is almost always fatal. Any individual who is bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed to saliva from a stray or any other animal, is advised to cleanse the contact area with soap and water, seek emergency medical treatment and report the incident to the health department.

Residents are urged to always avoid wild and stray animals to avoid exposure to rabies and to make sure their pets are up-to-date with vaccinations.

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