A raccoon that was present during a weekend festival at Camp Lima has tested positive for rabies, prompting health officials to urge anyone who may have had contact with the animal or its offspring to come forward.
The Livingston County Department of Health announced Tuesday that a New York State Health Department laboratory confirmed a raccoon in the Town of Lima tested positive for rabies on June 16. Officials said the animal was on the Camp Lima property during the German Festival on June 14 and that one person was potentially exposed to the virus and will receive preventative treatment.
Health officials believe the raccoon was a nursing mother and are asking anyone who had direct contact with the raccoon or any raccoon kits in the Camp Lima area to contact the Livingston County Department of Health for a rabies exposure assessment.
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms develop. In Livingston County, the disease is most commonly found in raccoons, skunks and bats, though all mammals, including unvaccinated pets and livestock, can become infected.
Officials reminded residents to avoid contact with wild or feral animals and to seek immediate medical attention after any animal bite or scratch. State law requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies beginning at 4 months of age.
The Livingston County Department of Health said anyone with questions about rabies exposure or vaccination clinics should contact the agency directly for guidance.
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