Raccoon tests positive for rabies in North Hills

A raccoon in McCandless has tested positive for rabies, public health officials said Thursday.

The animal was found near Pine Creek Road and Oakridge Drive, just west of Route 19 near the Wexford business district. It was tested in an Allegheny County Health Department laboratory.

It marks the fourth raccoon confirmed to have rabies in Allegheny County so far in 2020.

Three other types of animals also have tested positive in the county this year: a bat, a cat and a groundhog.

Rabies is a virus that can be transmitted to humans by an animal bite or scratch. Left untreated, exposure due to a bite or scratch is almost always fatal, according to the health department.

Health officials urge residents to avoid wild and stray animals and make sure their pets are up-to-date with vaccinations.

If any animal appears to be acting strangely or in a threatening manner, residents should notify their local animal control service, the police or the Pennsylvania Game Commission immediately.

A person who has been bitten, scratched or exposed to the saliva of an animal thought to be rabid should wash the area, seek medical treatment and call the health department at 412-687-2243 to file a report.